Indoor Air Quality FAQ

What's the importance of indoor air quality in a workplace?

The quality of indoor air is often a major component of worker comfort and satisfaction. Air quality in the workplace will affect productivity, sick time and even the length of time workers stay at a job.

What are the causes of indoor air quality problems?

Indoor air quality problems can be caused by a variety of sources such as:

•        Human metabolic activity
•        Smoking
•        Structural components of the building and contents
•        Microbial contamination
•        Mechanical equipment
•        Outside air pollutants that enter the building
•        Insufficient ventilation

Health complaints and symptoms experienced by workers are usually not specific enough to identify the causes. The majority of workplaces with air quality problems are usually traced to inadequate building ventilation, although some studies in the UK suggests that psychosocial issues (work related stress due to high job demands, work overload, conflicts at work, perceived lack of managerial support) can be a significant contributory factor. Other common problems are migration of odours or chemical hazards between different areas of the building, recirculation of air within the building and poor odour and environmental control due to insufficient fresh air.

Are there any regulations or guidelines about indoor air quality in workplaces?

Industrial standards for air quality have existed for many years. These standards typically set limits for concentrations of contaminants that could result in serious illnesses among workers. However, it has been determined that much lower concentrations of some compounds may cause less severe health effects among workers. WorkSafeBC has addressed this issue in the Occupational Health & Safety regulations (Part 4, Section 4.77) and state that:

“A ventilation system that discharges air from the work area must be designed to minimize the likelihood of exposing any worker at a workplace, including an adjacent workplace

(a)  to an air contaminant in a concentration which exceeds either 10% of its applicable exposure limit in Part 5 (Chemical and Biological Substances), or an acceptable ambient air quality standard established by an authority having jurisdiction over environmental air standards, whichever is greater, and

(b)  where practicable, to an objectionable odour.”

Other than air quality, are there any other factors that affect comfort in a workplace?

Indoor air quality is only one of several factors that can affect comfort in the workplace. Others include noise, lighting, number of individuals per unit area and psychosocial issues. Excessive noise or unsuitable lighting can result in headaches and other symptoms. Increased stress caused by work activity or overcrowding can also contribute to many complaints normally associated with poor air quality.