Office buildings are like small cities. They often have many different floors with different companies occupying different amounts of space. Each company has different requirements and needs from their space. But each tenant requires electricity, air, water and even telephone and internet connection. Alone each of these components is relatively harmless, but when you mix humans with plumbing and electricity, it’s only a matter of time when something goes wrong.
Office buildings are like small cities. They often have many different floors with different companies occupying different amounts of space. Each company has different requirements and needs from their space. But each tenant requires electricity, air, water and even telephone and internet connection. Alone each of these components is relatively harmless, but when you mix humans with plumbing and electricity, it’s only a matter of time when something goes wrong.
Depending on the age of the building the insides may have been renovated many times over, but the exterior has remained largely unchanged. This perfectly normal and safe provided that the management company has allowed for building safety inspections. Industrial Hygienists conduct safety inspections in large buildings. The maintenance manager or the building management company is in charge of hiring an Industrial Hygienist to inspect the building, the only possible issue is the frequency that the building is inspected. Typically the Industrial Hygienist is only called out when there is a problem, it would be better to have him inspect the building annually to prevent issues.
One of the hot topics in the media is worker safety. The building management company or the facility manager at larger facility is primarily concerned with the safety of the employees that are utilizing building on a daily basis. When a problem arises their job is to either fix the problem or call in the people who can. Whether the problem be one of air quality or unsafe working conditions an Industrial Hygienist can help solve any problems.
Previously it was discussed how commercial buildings had water and electricity in abundance. These are two things that can hinder a working day if either is not in working order. Water especially has the potential to cause many problems. Plumbing often leaks and once water comes in contact with different surfaces of the building those surfaces have the potential to become moldy. The water can quickly become contaminated with contaminants already present in the office building. Water will seep into the walls, collecting all sorts of unsanitary pollutants along the way, then once the visible water has been cleaned often that is when mold starts to grow. It will grow in the walls and in the carpet, and it can even infect the air system.
Having an Industrial Hygienist on call could save a lot of money. He is always available to perform testing and monitoring to help to improve the working conditions of the employees. If you need an air quality survey done or perhaps a noise survey then click here to find an Industrial Hygienist near you.
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.
