Workplace Air Quality: Who Monitors Indoor Pollution?

Indoor air quality is a major concern, especially in office buildings, as people spend about 90% of their time indoors. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are two federal agencies that play a role in maintaining indoor air quality in workplaces. OSHA requires employers to meet specific air quality standards and investigate complaints about unsafe working conditions, while the EPA sets and enforces air quality standards. Employers are responsible for maintaining air quality and can be held liable for workers' compensation claims if employees suffer adverse health effects due to poor air quality.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA's mission is to protect the health and safety of working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. This includes enforcing whistleblower statutes and regulations and conducting workplace safety inspections to reduce injury rates and costs. OSHA also establishes specific safety and health standards for different industries and job descriptions. For example, OSHA standards include requirements for employers to provide fall protection, prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals, ensure machine safety, and provide respirators or other safety equipment.

In addition to its regulatory and enforcement role, OSHA offers education and training for employers and employees on workplace safety. The agency monitors working conditions and investigates complaints about unsafe working conditions. If an employer is found to be non-compliant with OSHA requirements, they may be fined and required to restore safe working conditions.

OSHA also recognises the importance of temporary workers' safety and health. The agency holds both host and temporary employers responsible for any violations, ensuring compliance with workplace health and safety requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EPA has broad authority to regulate chemical substances and mixtures that may cause harm to human health and the environment. This includes controlling exposures to pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and setting standards for contaminants in public water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The EPA also addresses indoor air quality (IAQ) and its impact on vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with health conditions like asthma and heart disease. The agency provides resources and guidance on improving IAQ through source control, ventilation, and filtration to reduce exposure to indoor pollutants.

In the context of workplace indoor air quality, the EPA has specific roles and responsibilities. The EPA sets standards for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can enter indoor air through volatilization from water used in residences or other buildings. For example, the EPA regulates asbestos, a known human carcinogen commonly found in older buildings, which can become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or deteriorate over time.

Additionally, the EPA collaborates with other agencies and organizations, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to ensure safe working conditions and investigate complaints related to indoor air quality in workplaces. Employers are responsible for meeting air quality standards and providing a safe working environment for their employees, which includes addressing indoor air pollution and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) if necessary.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a diverse organisation with a staff of 1,200 people from a wide range of disciplines, including occupational epidemiology, occupational toxicology, medicine, industrial hygiene, safety, research psychology, engineering, chemistry, and statistics. NIOSH was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970, from the pre-existing Division of Industrial Hygiene founded in 1914. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with research laboratories and offices in several cities across the United States, including Cincinnati, Morgantown, Pittsburgh, Denver, Anchorage, Spokane, and Atlanta.

NIOSH conducts research and makes recommendations for the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. It helps users recognise and control workplace chemical hazards and determine if health hazards are present in the workplace, recommending ways to address them. NIOSH has developed the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), which provides a collection of sampling and analytical methods for workplace exposure monitoring.

NIOSH has several programs in occupational epidemiology and workplace health surveillance. The NIOSH Power Tools Database, for example, contains sound power levels, sound pressure levels, and vibrations data for various common power tools tested by NIOSH researchers. The NIOSH Hearing Protection Device Compendium contains attenuation information and features for commercially available earplugs, earmuffs, and semi-aural insert devices (canal caps).

NIOSH also has Education and Research Centers (ERCs) that support academic degree programs and research opportunities in the field of occupational health, as well as continuing education for OSH professionals. These ERCs are distributed across the United States and establish academic, labour, and industry research partnerships. NIOSH-funded agencies, such as the Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (CASH), focus on occupational health in industries involving food or plant products, including fishing, forestry, and agriculture.

State and local government agencies

State and local governments play a crucial role in investigating and regulating indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplaces through various agencies and departments. Here is an overview of the roles and responsibilities of these entities:

State Environmental Agencies

State environmental agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection or Environmental Quality, often take the lead in investigating indoor air pollutants in non-residential buildings, including workplaces.

Building investigation specialists

Spending a lot of time indoors means that the quality of the air inside has a significant impact on health. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is of particular concern in offices, as it affects the productivity of workers. In a nationwide random sampling of U.S. office workers, 24% perceived air quality problems in their work environments, and 20% believed their work performance was hampered.

If a professional company is hired to conduct a building investigation, it should be selected based on its experience in identifying and solving indoor air quality problems in non-industrial buildings.

Indoor air quality problems in large commercial buildings cannot always be effectively identified or remedied without a comprehensive building investigation. The process of solving these problems can be slow, involving several trial solutions before successful remedial actions are identified.

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