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Indoor Air Quality: Is there something in the air?
While working in your facility, is there something in the air that irritates your eyes or makes you cough or sneeze? If you’ve eliminated any other possible cause, there is a chance that poor indoor air quality at your workplace may be the causative factor. There is a greater likelihood that the air on your workroom floor is harmful if you find that the related symptoms you suffer from mysteriously leave when your workday ends. There are a number of reasons for poor indoor air quality. It is known that the growth of molds is the major contributor to poor indoor air quality, and they are more prevalent in the summer months since they like moisture, warmth and still air. Research has verified that high humidity can cause molds to proliferate, as can standing water, dirty heating and cooling ducts, damp upholstery, and dirty air filters on air conditioners and furnaces. Molds can drift in the natural air currents throughout a building, eventually landing on surfaces where they settle. Worker reactions to molds may be sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and sometimes chest pains. Moreover, molds, along with about 200 other substances found in a workplace, can trigger asthma episodes in some asthmatics. Note, however, that it can be difficult to determine if molds in the workplace are indeed causing these symptoms due to the general nature of the various reactions. Nevertheless, to prevent the growth of molds, experts recommend that workplaces be kept well ventilated, and that air conditioning systems be well maintained with their filters changed regularly. Filters that prevent the introduction of molds (as well as other contaminants) into the system’s ducts are regarded as the best way to prevent their growth. Documentation verifying the regular change of filters could be retrieved through your steward. Also, all areas should be kept clean and dry and good housekeeping is a must . . . molds can grow on old newspapers, trash, and in damp areas. If possible, humidity kept between 30-50% in a building greatly retards their growth. Unfortunately, I know of no minimum humidity requirement for postal installations, but this may be met if mandated temperature requirements are enforced. It is also recommended that in order to disinfect an area where there may be mold growth, a mixture of one part bleach and two parts water is most beneficial. These are all individual topics that may need to be explored further with management through union representatives. Other contaminants or combinations thereof could also make workers sick. It should be noted that the EPA estimates that 20-30% of all workers in modern mechanically ventilated buildings may experience air-quality related signs and symptoms. Recognizing the signs of a potentially serious indoor air quality (IAQ) problem among workers in a facility is paramount. This is commonly referred to as "sick building syndrome," and it has received a great deal of publicity of late. According to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Referral and Resources, Inc. (MCSRR), employees who may be experiencing "sick building syndrome" should look for any combination of the following symptoms when they are in their facility that mysteriously disappear when they leave:
According to OSHA, the causes of these symptoms may be due to a combination of substances or individual sensitivity to low levels of contaminants. Also, MCSRR states that after weeks or months of exposure, symptoms may become chronic and only get better after a long period away from the building. They may also manifest themselves in response to common chemical exposures outside the building, and this is known as "multiple chemical sensitivity," or "MCS." Employees who have complained with symptoms similar to those described above may indeed be suffering from "sick building syndrome." They may be afforded protection under the Federal Employees Compensation Act through the filing of a CA-2 and establishing that their illness is definitely work related. If any disability can be established, such employees could be afforded reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and could also be afforded applicable protection under the Family Medical Leave Act. A high number of complaints are a strong indication that the air quality in your facility should be scrutinized. What can workers do about indoor air quality in general in addition to the points mentioned above? Unfortunately, OSHA’s proposed Indoor Air Quality Standard introduced about six years ago never became law. This could have aided all workers facing indoor air quality problems by mandating employer compliance to established OSHA standards. Among other things, this standard would have required basic ventilation checks and the replacement of air filters on air conditioners regularly. There is some hope that this proposal will be resurrected in the future. Nevertheless, if you consider the factors generally considered contributory to poor indoor air quality, and have them appropriately addressed at your local safety and health meetings and/or through grievances, you may make some strides in the right direction. The factors I believe that may pertain to the problem and can be discussed are as follows:
Of course, creative and effective use of the grievance/arbitration procedure, as well as selective complaints filed with OSHA (citing Section 5a of the Act), should also be given due consideration in these situations. At the very least, you and your local will be on record as having requested that this issue be addressed by management. As many may know, it is no longer necessary for employees desiring to wear a filtering facemask to provide medical documentation. In a May 11, 1999 memo sent by USPS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to Area Maintenance and Human Resources Managers, it is expressly stated that managers must allow such personal protective devices when employees voluntarily wish to wear them. A copy of this memo can be provided upon request. And, yes, facemasks may get hot and become uncomfortable, and this does generally discourage workers from using them. For this reason, OSHA and most safety professionals encourage equipment modifications prior to the reliance of personal protective equipment like a facemask. However, at least in the short run, they are a viable means of protection for those willing to wear them. Much more can be written about indoor air quality and our rights as workers as they relate to this topic. The purpose of this article was to provide an overview and raise the consciousness level of workers who may be enduring a poor air quality situation, perhaps unknowingly. |
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