Due to several factors, indoor air quality has become an important health and safety concern. Problems with indoor air quality may arise from the indoor environment, indoor air contaminants and or insufficient outdoor air intake. It is the employer’s duty to make sure the air is of good quality.
Symptoms
It’s common for people to notice the symptoms after several hours of work and feel much better after they have either left the building or after a weekend or vacation when they have been away from the building. Symptoms include dryness and eye irritation, nose, throat and skin, fatigue, headache, allergies, sinus congestion, nausea, coughing and sneezing and shortness of breath among others. Many of the symptoms may also be caused by other health conditions such as flu or common colds, making it difficult to identify and resolve indoor air quality problems.
Is Air Contamination The Only Cause Of Symptoms?
No. it’s important to investigate all possible causes of the aforementioned symptoms when assessing complaints. Feelings of illness or discomfort may be related to any number of issues in the total indoor environment. Other common causes may include lighting, thermal comfort (humidity, temperature, and air movement), ergonomics and even noise levels.
As with any occupational illness, not all people are affected with the same symptoms or to the same extent. Some people are more sensitive than others and may experience symptoms earlier than others. Some people may be exposed to more contaminants in the indoor environment. As the air quality deteriorates and or the length of exposure to contaminants increases, symptoms tend to be more serious and more people tend to be affected. There are also cases where workers may develop sensitivity to indoor air quality contaminants as exposure continues over time.
In as much as it may be rather difficult to say for sure that indoor air is the cause of various health conditions, it would be prudent to investigate especially if people develop such symptoms within a few hours after starting work and feel better after leaving the building. You may also notice your symptoms may go away after leaving your home, this may be a sign of indoor air quality problems. If other people report similar symptoms, or if the people reporting certain symptoms work in the same building, indoor air quality should be suspected.