The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently released an unscientific, generic, report entitled Safety and Health in Manufactured Structures.
The report provides an overview of health and safety issues associated with “manufactured structures”; highlights factors that distinguish “manufactured structures” from site-built structures; and presents advice about what steps manufacturers, purchasers, owners, and occupants of manufactured structures can take to prevent and control health and safety risks in manufactured structures.
The report identifies special challenges associated with manufactured structure’s role in helping to meet emergency response needs after natural disasters as well as potential opportunities to further reduce health and safety risks. The report was politically motivated, and initiated as a direct result of attacks the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encountered after Hurricane Katrina in park models and travel trailers.
While this report focuses solely on “manufactured structures” the CDC points out that all structures contain health and safety risks for occupants.
The manual was developed after a working meeting was held on October 17, 2008. MHI participated in the meeting, with other industry groups, federal, state, and local government; community and environmental groups; industry; professional associations; and academic institutions.
During that meeting and subsequent communications, MHI voiced a number of concerns with the CDC including that any guidance the agency does develop, needs to recognize the comparability of manufactured housing to site built housing and that any issues being addressed by the guidance are also applicable to all types of housing. In particular, MHI stated any discussion of formaldehyde that may be included in the guidance, must address it from a product emissions standpoint. In addition, MHI recommended that any guidance must focus on occupant behavior and proper maintenance of homes.
The document has no legal force, provides no scientific data, and contains links to a multitude of generic sources.
For additional information, members can contact Lois Starkey at 703-558-0654 or lstarkey@mfghome.org.
MHI is the preeminent national trade association for the manufactured and modular housing industries, representing all segments of the industry before Congress and the Federal government. From its Washington, D.C. area headquarters, MHI actively works to promote fair laws and regulation for all MHI members and the industry. For more information on MHI,
