Tools for Detecting Hazards
(Revised 5/04)

Research has shown that substandard housing can pose significant health hazards to residents, including exposure to lead, carbon monoxide, mold, pesticide residues, cockroaches, radon, and allergens that can trigger asthma attacks.  These health hazards in housing are often far worse than outdoor exposures. 

Scientists first developed tools for assessing health hazards in housing and tested these tools in complicated research projects.  Professional experts have used them to assess environmental health hazards in housing, usually at a cost of hundreds of dollars for comprehensive assessments. 

But most homes have never been checked for health hazards at all, especially substandard housing in low-income communities that are at highest risk.  Usually, these hazards are ignored until someone gets sick. 

In recent years, the tools for detecting most health hazards in housing have gotten simpler, easier to use, and more affordable.  In some cases, a careful visual inspection can spot obvious signs of health hazards.  In other cases, environmental samples need to be collected and sent to a lab to be analyzed.  CEHRC is now working to bring these tools within the reach of community-based organizations in neighborhoods at high risk.   

Training is needed to use CEHRC's hazard assessment tools and interpret the results properly.  Depending on the hazard, the training may take from 2-3 hours to one day.  In some cases, those testing homes may need to get state-certified. 

CEHRC's tools and step-by-step instructions are intended to provide a low-cost means for checking high-risk housing for health hazards.  Instructions must be followed with care in collecting samples and interpreting the results to draw valid conclusions.  While CEHRC's low-cost tools are usually effective in identifying serious health hazards, more comprehensive assessment tools produce more detailed, reliable, and precise results - as one would fully expect. 

CEHRC presents information about each category of hazard in different materials, as follows: 

• Background Materials explain the significance of the health hazard, different methods for assessing the hazard, the existence of national standards, what the results mean, and where to go for additional information.  

• The Decision Guide assists community-based organizations planning a project determine in what situations it makes sense to check for this hazard, what tools and training are required, typical hazard assessment costs, and factors for selecting units to be assessed.

• Sampling Instructions provide step-by-step instructions on how to assess the hazard, including the number and location of samples to be collected, and any precautions that need to be followed during the sampling.  Sampling Instructions are a useful resource for training classes. 

• Sampling Checklists provide a condensed version of the Sampling Instructions that are appropriate for field use to remind Hazard Investigators about key steps in the assessment process.
  
  
• CEHRC Reports are the forms on which the results of Home Hazard Investigations are consolidated and summarized so that they can be easily explained to the resident.
  
  
• Training Opportunities and Materials

CEHRC is a project of the Alliance for Healthy Homes.  To help keep CEHRC moving forward, please consider making a contribution to the Alliance.