..read more

PFAS chemicals have climbed up the contamination hit list with a bullet.  PFAS is going to make asbestos and lead look like elementary environmental issues so to keep you up to speed on what is going on with PFAS please see the following. PFAS In Our Food:  The links below review how PFAS chemicals besides being in some food packaging has also contaminated dairy and beef farms, organic pasta sauces, canola oils, seafood, eggs, fruit, vegetables, grain, bottled & tap water and more. Some common practices that contribute to PFAS contamination in our food is spreading of sewage sl ..read more

Competitive environmental Intelligence (CeI) for insurance professionals that sell or consult on cyber insurance. Background:  Businesses that utilize computers can be vulnerable to a cyberattack.  In one situation a wastewater treatment plant was the target in which a hacker caused 300,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill into a river and flood the grounds of nearby businesses. Cyberattacks (use of Malware) generally refers to a crime in which a computer is targeted.  Hackers can reprogram equipment to run at unsafe speeds, higher temperatures, open valves, change pressures…, tha ..read more

Do you work with food service business?  Businesses in the food service industry use a variety of equipment to prepare the food and beverages they offer their clientele. I am often asked if food service businesses have any environmental exposures and the first thing that comes to my mind is poisoning customers.  The food service industry is under very tight regulations that require a variety of cleaning and disinfectant chemicals / compounds. I can’t tell you how many hundreds of times I have heard of poisoning claims in the food service industry. When talking with someone in the foo ..read more

For a Certified environmental Strategist (CeS), the first step in developing and executing an environmental Management Strategy (eMS) is to find out, “Who you are doing business with?” A business may do nothing wrong at all, but if a vendor/s the business hires causes for there to be an environmental liability, the business can still be held responsible. A few years ago, Walmart and Home Depot each paid multi-million-dollar fines to the EPA for storm water runoff from their construction sites caused by contractors they hired.  Today, Walmart and Home Depot require contractors doing work f ..read more

environmental Strategist, between the lines:  Every business is impacted by environmental exposures and a Certified environmental Strategist (CeS) understands in today’s business environment, it’s imperative that businesses have an environmental financial assurance strategy to back stop potential environmental liabilities.  There are a variety of environmental financial assurance instruments available, i.e. bonds, insurance, captives (EnviroCap), letter of credit, self-insurance…. Simply due to the product they are dealing with the cement / masonry industry from manufacture (emulsifi ..read more

environmental Strategist, between the lines:  The links below highlight the vast array of environmental exposures impacting fire fighters.  Since 2002, almost two out of every three firefighters who died in the line of duty died of cancer. What’s causing this tragedy for fire fighters?  In basic terms, when buildings and contents burn, they give off hazardous fumes along with contaminate the ground, ground water, neighboring property’s, waterways, natural resources and more. Besides the obvious pollution cleanup after a fire, affected property owners can also be impacted by thir ..read more

If you breath air, drink water, consume food, you are impacted by and contribute to our PFAS / PFOA… contamination.  As I have said in the past, PFAS liabilities are going to make asbestos and lead look like elementary environmental issues. PFAS contamination is not an IF situation.  It’s emerging and ongoing (Forever Chemicals) and impacting each one of us daily.  In Michigan, where I live, we have roughly 200 identified PFAS contaminated sites and guesstimates are this will grow to roughly 11,000, just in Michigan.  In the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, they are detec ..read more

environmental Strategist, between the lines:  As the links below point out a chemical leak at a Houston water park left dozens suffering.  “The chemicals involved included hypochlorite solution and 35% sulfuric acid”.  These are very common chemicals used in swimming pools, whirlpool spas, laps pools and of course water parks. Who are your client’s that can experience the same pollution liability as Six Flags?  High Net Worth Insureds, hotels / resorts, country clubs, municipalities, public schools / colleges, homeowner associations, apartments, condominium associations and ..read more

environmental Strategist, between the lines:  In the past eS has sent out Competitive environmental Intelligence (CeI) on PFAS / PFOA… chemicals and how they are so ingrained in the fabric of our society.  PFAS / PFOA… are going to make asbestos and lead look like elementary environmental issues.  Their negative impact on our environment and human health cannot be understated.  No matter where you live, you and your family are exposed to PFAS chemicals daily. As a refresher, PFAS chemicals are used for their resistance to heat, water, oil and grease.  PFAS are a group ..read more