Why monitor the air quality if nobody is complaining? If your organization is interested in maximizing worker productivity, while minimizing absenteeism, health insurance and worker’s compensation claims, read on… One of the key contributors to employee productivity, health and satisfaction might be easily overlooked because it cannot be “seen”, yet we’re absorbing it into our bodies every second of every day… it’s the AIR!
Because Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, exposure to indoor air pollution may pose a greater health concern than outdoor air pollution. In fact, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that the air within buildings can be far more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities!
In situations where poor IAQ has developed, the problem often reveals itself through ill workers who suffer a variety of cold/allergy symptoms, breathing discomfort or physical irritations. But what if there are no outwardly noticeable problems… why should IAQ be a concern? Because… as we’ve heard before, “an ounce of medicine is worth a pound of cure.”
Today, more and more companies are taking a pro-active approach to taking care of their workers. They are going beyond what is “required” by law, and as a result, are enjoying the financial benefits as well as the intangible rewards of improved employee health and satisfaction. It might be an on-site gym or child-care facility, or some kind of wellness program. Or it might be a baseline IAQ investigation and routine checks to maintain the best Indoor Air Quality possible.
Taking a pro-active, preventative approach to managing Indoor Air Quality means making an investment that would amount to far less than the potential costs incurred by not performing routine IAQ monitoring.
So, where do you begin when you want to initiate an IAQ monitoring program for your organization? Given the higher profile and newsworthiness of “sick buildings” in recent years, there are a lot of newcomers in this field. Credentials, experience and great references from current IAQ clients are all qualifications you should look for. And what should you expect from a qualified consultant? A professional IAQ consultant’s services will include an on-site visit/interview, a detailed custom proposal for the investigation plan of action, which includes an inspection of the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, and a sampling strategy.
Following the investigation and testing, you should expect and receive a professional, scientifically supported, yet easy to understand report with appropriate recommendations. This step is critical, because it is valuable documentation that stays on file and supports your efforts at pro-active monitoring for the benefit of employees as well as the organization.
If you would like more information on IAQ, please contact SterlingEHSP. We have been performing high-quality IAQ inspections and testing since 1989 in California and beyond.