Indoor air
Good indoor environment helps employees cope with work and increases productivity. It can also promote the health and occupational well-being of employees. The employee must ensure the healthiness and safety of indoor air conditions.
The concept of ‘indoor air’ comprises both the building’s air quality and the ambient temperatures. The most common health hazards of indoor air are related to:
- cigarette smoke
- radon
- asbestos dust
- long-term, extensive moisture and mould damage.
Temperatures, air conditioning and the building’s condition are all factors that affect the indoor air quality. The smell of a root cellar, bubbles in paint on different surfaces and visible mould growth are usually signs of moisture damage in a building.
Symptoms that are alleviated when away from the premises are a sign of indoor air issues.
Typical symptoms include:
- nasal symptoms, e.g. congestion
- throat symptoms, e.g. sore throat
- voice loss
- eye irritation
- skin symptoms
- headache
- strong tiredness
- frequent respiratory infections (for example, sinus infections or bronchitis).
When an employee starts to suspect an indoor air problem at the workplace, it is important that they report their observations and possible symptoms to their supervisor, the occupational safety and health representative and the occupational healthcare services.
Assessing the indoor air is part of the workplace’s hazard and risk assessment, which is part of the employer’s responsibility.
The employer has the duty to contact the property owner as soon as any problems are observed in the building. The employer must work together with the occupational healthcare services in the matters related to indoor air issues. The occupational healthcare services will act as the expert when assessing the health risks of moisture and mould damage to the employees.
Inspectors of OSH responsibility areas of the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) monitor the safety of work environments. At the workplace level, the problems caused by moisture damage microbes need to be taken seriously and treated with a proactive approach.