Resolving Office Complaints about Indoor Air Quality

The air quality inside of offices and other workplaces is important not only for workers’ comfort, but also for their health declares the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The agency cautions that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been tied to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

There are also some specific diseases that have even been linked to specific air contaminants or indoor environments, like asthma with damp indoor environments. OSHA warns that some exposures, such as with asbestos, do not cause immediate symptoms but can lead to cancer after many years.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the demand for good indoor air quality in office buildings has emerged into a major issue. EPA cautions that many office buildings have significant indoor air pollution sources. Some of the sources listed include:

• Furnishings
• Occupant activities
• Housekeeping practices
• Pesticide applications
• Microbial contamination

The agency goes on to suggest that a factor greatly influencing the effect of these sources and the overall quality of indoor air in offices is the ventilation system design, operation and maintenance. EPA also shares that people generally have less control over the indoor environment in the office than they do at home. As a result, there are large numbers of reported health problems associated with office buildings.

“It is also true that identifying and resolving IAQ complaints that are localized or widespread in an office building can be challenging due to many factors,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “An experienced and qualified professional, with access to the tools, instruments, and resources required to complete a thorough investigation, is necessary for these types of building assessments. At CTSI, our experts help building owners and managers efficiently resolve air quality complaints. We offer testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services to identify and mitigate exposure risks, while also optimizing indoor conditions.”

CTSI recently sponsored an educational video about indoor air quality complaints in the office that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/KKoF_ME944g

To learn more about CTSI and their indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, infection control, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail