OSHA releases “Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and Institutional Buildings” booklet

At Environmental Services Group, we pride ourselves in going the extra mile to help remove environmental hazards from buildings. One way we do it is to stay abreast of innovations in the Greater Toronto area and Canada as a whole, but also south of the border.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has just released an “Indoor Air Quality Commercial and Institutional Buildings” booklet. The document advises employers on how to keep their buildings free of pollutants and any conditions that foster poor indoor air quality. For example, it explains how to control airborne toxins, how to introduce “makeup” air sources and how to keep temperature and humidity levels acceptable.

So why is this booklet important? One reason is that it can help reduce the potential compromises of a “green” building. Sometimes, the measures done to reduce a given venue’s outward environmental footprint actually threaten the health of a building’s occupants. When you think about it, it makes sense. Doing everything in your power to protect outdoor air quality can often mean suppressing harmful agents indoors and thus making the indoor environment less liveable.

If you’re regularly feeling ear, nose, throat, eyes and skin irritation, you may be breathing in an unsafe indoor air environment. Same goes if you feel lung congestion or experience headaches, dizziness or fatigue. If you have any of those symptoms, consider contacting an environmental consulting firm for a full inspection.

When the inspection begins, how do we determine what environmental threats lie within our institution? As the report by the OSHA explains, various versions of Indoor Air Quality Profile Monitors are commonly used. A given customer can specify which parameters he or she wants checked, but the IAQ monitors typically have sensors to measure things like:

–          Ammonia

–          Carbon dioxide

–          Carbon monoxide

–          Chlorine

–          Formaldehyde

–          Humidity

–          Methane

–          Nitrogen dioxide

–          Ozone

–          Smoke

–          Sulphur dioxide

–          Temperature

–          TVOC’s

–          Water

Environmental Services Group will continue to stay current with the latest trends in indoor air quality (IAQ) and countless other environmental protection measures.

Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!