SSCI Environmental is here to help you and your business stay prepared and compliant during hurricane season. Here are some tips aimed at protecting your facility, your property and family, plus preventing environmental spills. Weather can change in an instant – will you be ready? Here are some essential tips to help: 1. Review Your Emergency Response Plan: Ensure your facility’s emergency response plan is up-to-date and includes specific procedures for hurricanes. Conduct regular drills with your team to ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. 2. Secure Hazardous Materials: Properly store and secure all hazardous materials and chemicals to Read More »
With temperatures rising into the triple digits, heat exposure is a serious concern for us all. Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the United States. Heat-related illnesses may include cramping, exhaustion, syncope (fainting or dizziness), nausea, rashes, muscle breakdown, and/or stroke. Sensitive populations — such as the elderly, children, and those with diabetes — are highly susceptible to heat–related illnesses. Individuals should wear light-colored, lightweight, and loose-fitting clothing to minimize the effects of heat exposure. Hydration is a key. According to the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, fluid intake should be about 3.7 liters of fluids Read More »
Engineering services Environmental services Safety
Hurricane Season 2025 Is Here – Are You Prepared?
Don’t Get Blown Away—Stay Storm-Ready with SSCI Environmental Helping You Prepare, Prevent, and Protect – June 1 to November 30 Predictions released as of May 13 predict an above-normal number of named tropical systems, ranging from: Named storms: 13-21. Hurricanes: 7-10. Major hurricanes: 3-5 The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially starts June 1st, and NOAA is predicting another above-average season. For businesses and industrial facilities across the Gulf Coast, that means now is the time to revisit emergency procedures, inspect equipment, and double-check compliance. At SSCI Environmental, we understand the risks storms pose to your operations—and we’re here to help you prepare before Read More »
SSCI’s team of professionals including industrial hygienists, safety professionals, biologists, and engineers have experience in disaster response and recovery including emergency response for natural disasters and catastrophes. Our services include Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) compliant programs. Our team members have performed as Incident Commanders for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and EPA response for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Harvey in Texas and Louisiana as well as for many tornado debris responses in Oklahoma. Our team has performed emergency response for the Texas Commission on Read More »
Concerned about cleaning surfaces for homes and businesses potentially impacted by COVID-19? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing Resources for Home including cleaning and disinfection recommendations. For non-porous surfaces, a bleach solution consisting of 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water will is effective for disinfection. When using bleach make sure you are in a well ventilated area, that the bleach is not expired, and never mix bleach with ammonia products. Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered Read More »
SSCI recently had the opportunity to provide Asbestos Awareness training for Galveston area historical property owners and volunteers. The presentation included discussions of asbestiform minerals, common commercial products containing asbestos, health associated with asbestos exposure, and a review of regulatory requirements for asbestos management and removal. The presentation was provided by Vice President and Board Member, Ms. Jo Drake Keim. Ms. Keim has 25 years of experience in the environmental consulting and occupational safety and health training. She has provided classroom instruction for occupational training courses in industrial hygiene, property assessments, and environmental regulations. Ms. Keim has instructed occupational and Read More »
Environmental services Industry news Safety Uncategorized
New Emergency Preparedness Training Requirements for Hospitals
The implementation date for the new training requirements is November 15, 2017. The new rule establishes national emergency preparedness requirements that include adequately planning for disasters that fall on a continuum between disruptive to disastrous. The new regulations apply to healthcare providers, including hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and long-term care facilities. To find out more, please follow this link to Occupational Health and Safety magazine. https://ohsonline.com/articles/2017/11/01/cms-emergency-preparedness-training.aspx If you need assistance with assessing your training needs or if you are looking for a training provider, please contact SSCI at 800-324-7724 or visit our website at www.sscienvironmental.com or SSCI-HEALTH-SAFETY & Read More »
On Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, a total eclipse will cross the entire country, coast-to-coast, for the first time since 1918. Check out when you’ll be able to see the solar eclipse at NASA. NASA is sharing information on safe eclipse viewing with community centers, and citizen science projects are developing. If you can’t watch Monday’s total solar eclipse, don’t worry. Another one will be visible in the U.S. in 2024. According to NASA, the following materials should never be used to view a solar eclipse: sunglasses of any kind color film medical X-ray film smoked glass floppy disks The only way to safely Read More »
Zebra Mussels have been positively identified for the first time at Lake Travis in Central Texas. Zebra Mussels are an invasive species originating from eastern Europe and western Russia. A single adult female zebra mussel can produce up to one million larvae each year that cannot be seen by the naked eye, causing infestation to occur before a sighting. Zebra mussels attach to any hard surface in the water including submerged infrastructure, piping, watercraft, and even native mussels. Currently, there is no known way to eliminate zebra mussels from entire lakes without harming native species and colonies, and are expensive Read More »