Water Damage & Catastrophic Water Loss

Water Damage & Catastrophic Water Loss IS YOUR FACILITY PREPARED?

CASE STUDY East Texas General Hospital September 6, 2010: 0400 HRS 3 Inch pressurized fire suppression line burst on the second floor bed tower. Approximately 20 minutes pass before the water main is isolated. An estimated 300,000 gallons of Category 3 water is released affecting approximately 80% of the hospital.

CASE STUDY East Texas General Hospital Facility was unprepared with no contingency Shut Down and diversion was not feasible Administrators chose to remain operational Mitigation, Restoration and Construction would take 9 months to complete from the date of the release (24/7/365) Total loss: 9.5 million

OBJECTIVES STAKEHOLDERS TYPES OF WATER INTRUSIONS CATEGORIES OF WATER MITIGATION RESTORATION/REMEDIATION PREPARATION LESSONS LEARNED

STAKEHOLDERS The Affected Facility Insurance Company Restoration Contractor Industrial Hygiene Firm Construction Company Regulatory Agencies

STAKEHOLDERS Insurance Company Regulatory Agencies AFFECTED FACILITY Restoration Contractor Construction Company Industrial Hygiene Firm

TYPES OF WATER INTRUSIONS 1. RISING WATER Torrential Rain, Groundwater 2. INTERNAL RELEASE (Sprinkler Lines, Sprinkler Heads, Pipe Breaks, etc.) Structural 3. EXTERNAL (Wind/Rain) Super Cell Storms, Straight Line Wind, Tornados, Hurricanes

CATEGORIES OF WATER Category 1 (Clean Water) Sanitary water source with no substantial risk. Category 2 (Grey Water) Significantly contaminated water with potential to cause sickness. Category 3 (Black Water) Grossly contaminated water containing pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents.

CATEGORIES OF WATER Category 1 Water Supply Lines Tub, Toilet, Sink Overflows (No Contaminants) Equipment Malfunctions Water Supply Lines Melting Ice & Snow Falling Rainwater Note: If Category 1 water comes in contact with a contaminant or remains following a release for 48 hours, it is considered Category 3 water.

CATEGORIES OF WATER Category 2 Discharge from dishwashers, sterilizers, etc. Toilet overflows containing urine (no fecal) Release from water features Note: In medical facilities, Category 2 water is considered Category 3 water in all patient care areas. In all common areas, Category 2 water is considered Category 3 water if not immediately extracted.

CATEGORIES OF WATER Category 3 Sewage Toilet Backflows (beyond the trap) All Seawater All rising water from rivers, streams, groundwater Storm Surge (Hurricanes, Tornados, etc.) Sprinkler Lines!! (Always Category 3)

CATEGORIES OF WATER Case Study: East Texas General Release was from a 3 inch fire suppression line Category 3 Water All affected porous building materials would be removed correctly (demolished) Contents would be individually assessed Industrial Hygiene: ICRA, Scope of Work, Demo Specifications would be developed.

MITIGATION Should start immediately following an intrusion Includes: 1. Extraction 2. Controlling Indoor Environment 3. Industrial Hygiene Services

Physically removing as much water as possible from indoor environment Requires massive amount of man power/resources Use of truck mounted & portable water extraction units Documentation of affected areas MITIGATION Extraction

MITIGATION Control the Environment Goal is to minimize wicking, prevent microbial growth, reduce overall loss. Establish a drying chamber Air Scrubbers only, No Fans Create drying conditions Control Temperature & RH Dehumidification Desiccants LGR Portables.

MITIGATION Industrial Hygiene Services Immediate Baseline sampling for Mold & Bacteria Rapid development of Remediation Specifications Rapid development of an ICRA Moisture mapping/identification of affected areas Monitoring of atmosphere

MITIGATION Case Study: East Texas General Extraction and Control of Environment: 38 hours Standing water removed Generators/external power installed Desiccants, air scrubbers & portable dehumidifiers inplace and operational Industrial Hygiene Support Risk Assessment ICRA Development Remediation Specifications Development

MITIGATION Case Study: East Texas General

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Prior to remediation complete agreement and understanding must be achieved quickly between all stakeholders and the affected facility: Facility Coordination Scope of Work Approval Prioritization Infection Control Regulatory Concerns

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Facility Coordination One Accessible Point of Contact: Facility Director/Engineer, COO, CEO, etc. Cooperation of Staff Contractor Regulations and Safety Relocation of services, offices, contents Regular updates

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Scope of Work Approval Facility, Insurance, Industrial Hygienist & Restoration Contractor must Agree on Expectations and Desired Outcome Fluid Document/Open to Change and Evolve Unforeseen Conditions/Pre existing damage/conditions

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Prioritization Business Units Addressed First: Emergency Room Patient Rooms PACU, Surgery, ICU, etc. Offices & Common Areas addressed after income producing units restored Contents were all individually assessed, either discarded or cleaned prior to re use

REMEDIATION Infection Control Infection Control Risk Assessment Identify High Risk areas (NICU, ICP, etc.) Containment Design & Specifications Negative Pressure Ventilation (Particle Counts) ACH Post Remediation Verification Sampling Bacterial Primary Concern Fungal

REMEDIATION Regulatory Concerns City Permits NFPA Fire Standards Fire Watch Temporary Code Permit Asbestos & Lead Containing Materials Samples required prior to Demo Notification if positive = delay Fungal Growth (Mold) Reportable and regulated in some states

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Case Study: East Texas General Never had a direct point of contact Remediation called for relocation of: Medical Records, Day Surgery, PACU, 32 patient rooms, Admin, Radiology, Cafeteria, etc. Scope of work took 10 days for approval Infection Control was left to contractor Reportable: Lead, Asbestos, Fungal Growth

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Case Study: East Texas General

RESTORATION/REMEDIATION Case Study: East Texas General 82 Total Containments 4200 Mold & Bacterial Samples 9 Asbestos Abatement Projects/Areas 2 Lead Abatement Projects/Areas 8 Mold Remediation Areas (Reportable)

PREPARATION What can YOU do to prepare your facility for a catastrophic water release or flood? 1.Standard Operating Procedures 2.Facility Training 3.Know who to call and when to call 4.Understand the liability and risk

PREPARATION Standard Operating Procedures Know and understand your EAP Create or update your SOP for water losses Distribute this plan to all employees Continuity of business is paramount Think worst case scenario

PREPARATION Facility Training Practice relocation and diversion Create a water extraction team Emphasize protection of expansion joints, business units, electrical components, etc. Diversion, diking, damming

PREPARATION Who to Call/When to Call Good relationship with Insurance Agency Place yourself on an Emergency Response Plan with a Restoration Contractor and Industrial Hygiene Firm that can handle a complete loss of your facility Always call immediately following a loss. A quick response minimizes the overall loss.

PREPARATION Liability Patient safety is the key concern, contact a professional when internal resources could present a liability. Pass liability to contractors Protect patients and employees Ensure that your facility is restored properly

QUESTIONS JACOB COLSON Principal/Catastrophe Response Director SRP Environmental LLC 808.520.1062 colson@srpenvironmental.net JEFF GORDON Lead Project Manager LMS Restoration, Inc. 903.436.4059 jeff@lmsrestoration.com