Air quality concerns in today’s office environment can range from simple complaints such as a damp smell in the air to more complex cases where the air quality causes employees to become ill and lose time at work.
The good news is that older people are healthier than ever before, and more are reaching old age. Improvements in science and public health have led to increased life expectancy. Chronic disability rates among the 65-plus age group are falling. Seniors are living longer - and healthier - than ever before.
Identifying a single cause of an indoor air quality problem is not always easy. Each of us has our own set of sensitivities to the environment. There may also be a variety of possible sources and causes. Indoor air quality issues can result from problems with the ventilation system, overcrowding, outside air pollutants, gases emitting from office furniture, carpets, electronic or mechanical equipment. Air quality problems can also stem from factors related to improper temperature and humidity control, poor lighting or noise.
Regardless of its cause, employees who have been exposed to poor indoor air quality can suffer a wide range of symptoms that include headaches, fatigue, a shortness of breath, allergies, sinus congestion, coughing and sneezing, dizziness and nausea. The symptoms usually go away when the employee has been out of the building for several hours or away for a weekend or a vacation. However, not everyone is affected in the same way. Some people are more sensitive to air quality problems and will experience symptoms almost immediately. Others may have more serious reactions to poor air quality.
One of the most familiar results of poor air quality is Sick Building Syndrome - a term used to describe cases where the employees of a building experience adverse health effects that can be linked to the time they spent in the building even though there is no specific illness or cause.
A committee of the World Health Organization estimates that as many as 30 percent of new or remodeled buildings may have unusually high rates of sick building complaints. While this is often temporary, some buildings have long-term problems. Poor ventilation is often a contributing factor in many sick building cases.
Building Related Illness (BRI) is also associated with poor indoor air quality. BRI frequently involves the skin and respiratory tract. People with BRI may experience fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath and fatigue. Legionnaire’s Disease is an example of BRI caused by bacteria that can contaminate a building’s air conditioning system.
While it is widely known that poor indoor air can adversely affect employee health and productivity, few areas of Canada have specific legislation that deals with indoor air quality issues. Instead, a ‘general duty clause’ applies. This clause, common to all Canadian occupational health and safety legislation, states that an employer must provide a safe and healthy workplace. Resolving air quality problems involves building owners and businesses working together to address the issues. One of the most effective strategies for controlling air quality is at the source.
When an HVAC system is properly designed, installed, operated, and maintained, it can promote indoor air quality. System design issues such as intermittent airflow, poor distribution of air and the location of building supply and exhausts can all impact on the quality of air.
At the Hummingbird Centre in Toronto, home to the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada, an environmental management company tests the air handling system by conducting air quality testing on an annual basis. "We deliberately pick a day where we have multiple shows going on so we can determine whether the air handling system is doing its job even when there are lots of people in the building," says Sandy Robinson, Senior Manager, Administration. "Various samples are taken throughout the building. The subsequent report is circulated to our health and safety committee so we can compare the results from one year to the next for any significant differences."
Staff at the Hummingbird Centre is made aware of air quality testing procedures via email. Robinson notes, "Everyone knows that air testing is part of our health and safety program. We think it makes sense to be proactive about it, rather than wait until there is a problem."
Excerpted from: The Safety Mosaic, Vol 5, No. 4, Winter 2002
That microwave ovens adjustments and repairs should only be done by a properly qualified service provider. Refer to OSSA Safety Check sheet on Microwave Ovens for more information.