Ernie Grooms

Red Cliff Air Quality Tech
 
 I utilize a “checklist” I’ve reconfigured which details my readings from initial entry into the home, then proceed to document each room of the home.

 I then take all this information and provide the home owner with a copy listing all the findings in each room of home (with thermal imaging pics), and comment s on how to remediate many of the problems they are having.  This gives the home owner a total breakdown of their home to utilize for information when using a contractor or housing authority maintenance for repairs/remediation.

 I also utilize our Health Centers “Health Specialist” when conducting IAQ assessments (especially when children are in the home/elderly), which gives an even more detailed look into what a home needs to maintain a safer environment, with tips on chemical storage (cleaning supplies/medications), cleanliness, and remediation suggestions for the home owner.  Many times, our Health Specialist calls me to assist in conducting assessments.

 In addition, when conducting assessments on “Tribal Housing Units”, I schedule a maintenance worker to accompany the Health Specialist and I to cover structural/appliance issues utilizing their checklist (thus providing three findings reports for the home owner and Housing Authority).

Ernie’s Checklist:

1)      Sample for Carbon Dioxide (ppm)

        Carbon Monoxide (ppm)

        Particulate Matter (PM at 0.5 microns)

        Relative Humidity (%)

        Ambient Temp (F)

        Wood Moisture (%)

        Thermal Imaging (pictures to show areas of concern within exterior walls/ceiling)

2)      List window types (energy efficiency, water stains, mold/mildew) Most homes with mold/mildew found have used blankets to cover windows holding in moisture.

                        Door Threshold seal (good or need replacing)

                        Type of flooring

                        Clothes dryer vented to outside                       

3)      Kitchen items (stove fume hood, CO detector, fire alarms, etc.)

4)      Type of heating units (electric, natural gas, wood heat)

5)      Air exchanger (if any)

6)      Wall covering (dry wall, paneling, wood plank, etc.)

7)      Outdoor area to include:

a)      Type of siding

b)      Roof (steel or shingle)

c)       Landscaping (noting if water sheds away from home or to home)

d)      Exterior door condition

  I am beginning to attend the Housing Board meetings in hopes of educating the “powers that be” in better ways to upgrade their units when funding is available.

Ernie's Contact Information: 

Phone: 715-779-3650
 

Dean Henry
Health and Safety Manager                       
 
 The Air Matters program is a pilot program at the Tulalip Tribes in Washington led by Dean Henry and his Healthy Home Team. The air matters program was established as a means to address indoor air quality utilizing healthy home tool kits, which include tools such as a dust mite pillow case, hygrometer and digital moisture meter. The tool kit serves as a way to educate residents about indoor air quality through low cost tools that are easy to install and use. The tool kits help improve the health of residents by reinforcing behavior change, such as monitoring relative humidity within the home using the hygrometer, or measuring moisture in drywall or wood using the digital moisture meter. It also helps empower residents seek additional help with larger, structural issues, if necessary. Our program hopes to decrease the burden of asthma and other lung diseases by improving knowledge among tribal members and creating awareness about indoor air quality throughout the entire tribe.

 The major goal of the Healthy Homes Team and the Air Matters Program was to educate tribal members about the health impact of indoor air quality, and to create a partnership between our program, the health clinic and housing department. We managed to not only create this partnership, but also start a referral program where the health clinic refers all patients with asthma and other lung diseases to sign up for a home visit and tool kit. Dean, and the Healthy Homes Team have taken tremendous steps in looking for funding and applying for grants. There are a number of partners that are available throughout the region, such as Snohomish County PUD, and the Bonneville Power administration, both of which provide grants for weatherization work.

 Some key lessons tribes should learn prior to adopting this program is to look into all potential funding sources, such as the BIA HIP grant, state Medicaid reimbursement program, or various EPA grants, in order to insure that kits will be funded. It is also really important to meet with different organizations and groups that can be partners with your program in order to reach and serve as many tribal members as possible.
 

Dean's Contact Information: 

Dean Henry  - Health and Safety Manager

Email: dhenry@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Office: 360-716-4439



 

 Take a few minutes to check out our new "Best Practices Catalogue". In the catalogue, you'll find a list of over 30 different activities that a tribe can select from in order to address indoor air quality. It covers most of the major and common hazards....from radon gases to mold to household chemicals. Our goal in creating the catalogue was to provide more than just a list, but to add value by providing a decision-making tool. 



 The activities in the catalgue all have a scientifically-demonstrated health benefit, but they vary in their effectiveness, intensity and cost. We encourage you to spend some time looking through the activities and if any are of interest to you, please contact us and we can help connect you with potential grant sources and provide technical assistance.