At Healthy Homes Investigations, we believe everyone has the right to a home environment that is free of hazards that can result in adverse health effects.

 

Hi, I’m Constance Kridiotis, Certified Industrial Hygienist and Owner/Operator of Healthy Homes Investigations.  Back when I was in university, I originally wanted to be a medical doctor and began volunteering at the local hospital to get a feel for what it would be like.  I learned something very important during that time – although I wanted to help people who were hurting, what if I could prevent illness before if even started?  If prevention is the key, how is it done?  The answer to that question is industrial hygiene:

 

The science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising which may cause sickness, impaired health and well being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community.

 

I know what you’re thinking – “huh?”  Here’s the not-so-scientific definition:

 

Industrial hygienists monitor the environment for exposure hazards that may make a person sick and then provide expertise advice on how to reduce the risk of that exposure.  Exposures can range from biological (mould and bacteria), to chemical (gases and vapours) to physical (asbestos, lead, dust).

 

I started working for an environmental firm that had multiple industrial hygienists for me to learn from and get my feet wet in the industry.  I started as a microbiologist, analyzing mould samples for airborne mould spores, which I did for a few years.  Following this, I started doing more field work and became well versed in the different environments that industrial hygienists work.  I’ve been doing industrial hygiene for over 10 years and became a Certified Industrial Hygienist in 2014.

 

Healthy Homes Investigations began when I to noticed the importance of an protecting workers from hazardous exposures at work, but that the same importance was not stressed at home.  Time after time, I would be asked by those around me if I could complete an inspection or investigation for environmental hazards such as mould growth, asbestos, lead and even sewage contamination (think e.coli) in their homes.  Although I had predominantly worked in industrial environments such as oil refineries and chemical manufacturers, I knew that exposures at home were equally as important as those in chemical facilities.  Not to mention, the larger companies I worked for typically did not do work for home owners and if they did, the price was astronomical. 

 

This his how Healthy Homes investigations came to light.  Having worked in a microbiology laboratory in my past and working as an industrial hygienist now, I was able to provide air sampling and assessment services to the homeowner for a reasonable cost.  Not only that, but I could also live out my beliefs (back to that first sentence) and truly prevent sickness and illness before it started.

 

Healthy Homes Investigations provides mould, asbestos, lead and other inspections in residential and home settings at a reasonable cost.  If you think you may be exposed to an hazard in your home that may be reducing your health and quality of life, give us call, we may be able to help.