Healing Sick Buildings
Kynoch Environmental Management prioritizes people to resolve facilities’ ailments
For proof that Kynoch Environmental Management, Inc. (KEM) is out to humanize the whole business of environmental services, look no further than the titles of some of its blogs:
• “Don’t Wait Until You Are Fined”
• “Does Your Building Have a Funny Smell?”
• “Mold—You Have 72 Hours!”
After all, says company President Brent Kynoch, the firm serves people—those who are looking out for their employees. Such things like hard science, environmental engineering and industrial hygiene, while relevant, are generally not topics of discussion around the watercooler.
“Some would turn this job into a science experiment, but we’ve learned that the human response is much more beneficial,” Kynoch says. “Focusing strictly on an environmental issue actually gets in the way. Almost always, the client has a larger goal in mind, and the environmental issue must be overcome to reach the larger goal.”
In response to a call from a building manager or owner, a well-trained KEM crew member interviews the client, asking some basic questions. When the concern is about indoor air quality, for example, the questions include: “Is it one or more people complaining?”…“Is it one area of a building?”…“Is it only occurring at a certain time of day?”
“Our goal is the same as our clients’ goals: to satisfy the concerns of the employees. So, we take the time to understand what’s going on from the clients’ perspectives,” Kynoch says
In the process, KEM and the client see eye to eye that an environmental concern affects the latter’s time and money. The sooner an inspection and resolution can be pursued, the better in terms of maintaining work timelines and achieving business goals.
“To spend a few thousand dollars to solve the problem is better than the company spending several days and even weeks in unproductive time for salaried employees,” Kynoch says.
The Search Is On
Environmental testing begins with a goal of solving the mystery. “We’re always looking for answers. Not finding an answer is not an option,” he adds.
KEM, based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, has focused on commercial and multifamily property since its start in 2000. With sophisticated equipment and a keen understanding of state and federal regulations, KEM inspects for the known or unknown presence of asbestos, lead, mold, silica, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon and more.
After presenting its findings, KEM discusses with the client what the objectives are. Next steps can include isolating the contaminant, managing abatement activities or even creating an Environmental Management System (EMS).
Companies are finding great benefit associated with developing an integrated approach to environmental issues, Kynoch says. “An EMS builds a defined management system around the environmental efforts of a company, offers competitive advantages and can result in significant cost and resource savings for successful users.”
Indoor air quality is one common concern of architects, building owners and facility managers. KEM has developed a three-phase Indoor Air Quality Survey that provides a comprehensive investigation of the building ventilation system and assesses occupants’ concerns before any expensive testing is conducted.
Up Close and Personable
KEM maintains a tight-knit group of employees who have a broad mix of education and experiences. The most valued prospects for hire have degrees in the hard sciences (for instance biology, chemistry and physics) or engineering.
In addition to having the “smarts,” an ideal KEM employee is people oriented. Why? “Our environmental specialists go face-to-face with our customers,” Kynoch says.
Being people oriented also fits well with KEM’s business culture. Carlos Elizondo, Executive Vice President, says the company operates like a big family with a common focus of working well together, serving the customer and achieving each project’s goals.
“What I love about the company is that everyone plays a part in all projects,” Elizondo says.
Staff members are qualified to perform a number of specialized assignments, including asbestos and hazardous materials emergency responses, lead inspections and risk assessments.
KEM also ensures its employees get extensive training and refresher courses throughout the year. The nature of environmental services demands it, as does the fact that KEM operates locally in the three jurisdictions of Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, as well as in Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina and Texas.
The Right Call
KEM has provided its expertise for school districts, apartment complexes, public agencies and others. Kynoch says his customers fall into the categories of general contractors, property managers, property owners, developers and attorneys.
At Cardozo Senior High School in Washington, D.C., KEM was part of the design team assembled by Hartman-Cox Architects for renovation of the building. KEM confirmed prior Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) asbestos surveys, as well as a search for the presence of PCBs (which are harmful industrial products or chemicals) and mercury in ballasts and fluorescent light bulbs. KEM then prepared asbestos, lead and hazmat abatement specifications, which were included as part of the total renovation package.
KEM worked on another project with HITT Contracting Inc. (HITT) during the repainting of the U.S. Capitol’s west exterior facade before President Barack Obama’s inauguration. The scope of work required testing and the stabilization of chipping and peeling lead-based paint. KEM developed a lead-safe work plan for HITT that was approved by the Architect of the Capitol.
About two-thirds of KEM’s projects are reactive in nature. Many customers need environmental services as a result of problems that arise with their “sick” buildings or for contaminated work sites in use. The remaining one-third is proactive or preventive in nature: occupants, owners or managers of buildings or sites wanting assurances of safety before occupancy, construction or property use.
“Sometimes it’s hard to present a contractor with the rationale for preventing versus responding to a problem after the fact,” Kynoch says. “But we’re always working to grow the preventive side because ultimately it saves everyone time and money.”
With silica topping the list of concerns today, KEM has proactively pursued another line of conversation with customers to assist them in becoming compliant with the latest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
Crystalline silica is a natural mineral present in many construction and industrial sites in the form of sand, concrete, stone and mortar. Inhaling tiny silica particles can cause lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or kidney disease. KEM helps businesses and other organizations develop OSHA-required Exposure Control Plans that include monitoring environments that might have airborne silica.
Whether the issue is silica, lead, asbestos or mold, KEM takes a personal approach to providing its quality environmental inspections and remediation.
“When KEM receives a call or a request for service, we will meet expectations for timeliness, and we will keep our client informed every step of the way,” Kynoch says. “Most importantly, we take the time to understand our client’s overall objectives for the project, and we work to meet those objectives.”