Environmental Health & Safety Manual (EHS)

Effective: 4/15/1997

Revised: 10/1/2003

EHS 402: Indoor Air Quality Investigations

Purpose

To ensure a safe and healthy work environment by establishing guidelines for conducting investigations, including air monitoring, in response to indoor air quality complaints or recognized adverse building conditions

Sources

29 Code of Federal of Regulations § 1910.1000

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Building Air Quality Manual

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineering, ASHRAE 62–1989

Applicability

University building occupants who suspect that discomfort or illness in the workplace is attributable to conditions affecting the indoor air quality of that space

Background

Good indoor air quality enhances occupant health and comfort and contributes to increased workplace productivity and a general sense of well-being.

Policy

University building occupants who suspect that an office, laboratory, or classroom may have an indoor air quality problem must submit to Environmental Health & Safety a completed Indoor Air Quality Questionnaire. For additional information or to file a complaint and request an investigation, call 480/965–1823. Environmental Health & Safety will conduct an investigation to determine whether the occupant’s discomfort or illness is attributed to an indoor air quality problem. If an indoor air quality problem is identified, the department shall ensure that administrative and/or engineering controls are implemented to eliminate or reduce the condition.

Procedure

In response to an indoor air quality complaint, Environmental Health & Safety will conduct a building investigation in an effort to identify and mitigate the indoor air quality problem.D

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Responsibility	Action
Individual experiencing discomfort or illness	Inform supervisor and provide name, phone number, office or cubicle number, symptoms, possible sources of contamination, and any other information that may be relevant to the indoor air quality investigation.
Department	Contact Environmental Health & Safety at 480/965–1823 to file the complaint and request an indoor air quality investigation. Provide Environmental Health & Safety with the relevant information.
Individual experiencing discomfort or illness	Complete and submit to supervisor an Indoor Air Quality Questionnaire.
Environmental Health & Safety	Contact supervisor and affected employees to confirm information regarding the complaint. Conduct occupant interviews and indoor air quality investigation as needed. Determine mitigation measures and communicate results, in writing, to affected employees and their supervisors. Work directly with Facilities Management if the indoor air quality problem is attributed to the facility’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system or another building system or condition.

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Cross-References

For related information, see:

1. EHS 103, “Hazard Communication Program”

   and

2. EHS 104, “Laboratory Use of Hazardous Chemicals.”

See also the Staff Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual—SPP 305, “Smoking.”

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