Indoor air quality is essential to the health of employees. Employees spend half of their days at work and if the air they are breathing is not clean and free of contaminants then they are more likely to get sick. This could result in time off or possibly workman’s comp. No employer wants their employees to be sick and employers especially don’t want their employees to have to miss work.
Indoor air quality is essential to the health of employees. Employees spend half of their days at work and if the air they are breathing is not clean and free of contaminants then they are more likely to get sick. This could result in time off or possibly workman’s comp. No employer wants their employees to be sick and employers especially don’t want their employees to have to miss work.
How can an employer be certain that the air quality that their employees are breathing is safe? Most of the air contaminants are microscopic. What if the place of employment isn’t in an office but instead is in a manufacturing plant? Any place where employees spend time could be a hazard risk. Sometimes it is difficult to take air samples outside, but it isn’t impossible. One example might be if there is a manufacturer that produces silica dust as a byproduct. If that silica dust was blown into the office of a nearby office, the employees at the second location could be at risk for inhaling too much silica dust.
The only certain way to ensure that the air that employees are breathing is clean and safe is to have the air tested. Industrial Hygiene firms are the best places to look for qualified people to conduct an accurate air quality test. The test is not an invasive test it simply requires air monitors and someone to discuss what the issue is and the history of the problem to the Industrial Hygienist.
The industrial hygienist will tour the office building or plant that has an issue. It will be imperative for them to be told if there was ever any water leaks, floods, or any type of damage. This information will impact where the industrial hygienist takes his samples and how many samples he takes. In cases where there has been water damage, even if the water was taken care of quickly, the industrial hygienist will want to be certain that mold did not set up in the walls. He might take a moisture reading of walls to ensure that they are not wet, please not that just because a wall might feel dry does not mean that it is dry. It is possible that he might also want to take a core sample. He will drill a three inch hole in the wall and look at the wall and see if there is any evidence of mold or other contaminants.
If the air where you work is unsatisfactory or if you feel that an air quality test would benefit your working environment click here to find an Industrial Hygienist near you. Please know that an industrial hygienist can help determine what the problem is and where the problem originated.
Occupational Health Overcomes Everyday Hazards
Many workers face different types of hazards on a daily basis. Each company has a responsibility to proactively protect their employees from hazards encountered in the workplace. Accidents or injuries can bring production to a halt, reduce the workforce while the employee is recovering and lead to costly worker compensation claims. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can help your company improve the Occupational Health present at your facility.
The Risk from Asbestos
Asbestos poses a major health risk in many office buildings and homes due to the wide adoption and usage of asbestos as an insulator in the construction process. Asbestos can be found in the glue beneath vinyl flooring or in material applied to concrete to regulate the temperature between floors in an office building. These buildings and homes are being remodeled and modernized as an update to the space, but the demolition process can be hazardous if asbestos is present. Test for asbestos prior to starting your next remodeling project to ensure workers are safe.
Communicating the Dangers with HazCom
Hazard Communication focuses on explaining the dangers present at the workplace. The employees have a right to understand the hazards present and how to remain safe on the jobsite. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can work with your company to fulfill the HazCom requirement set forth by OSHA.
