Indoor Air Quality
Investigation
Purpose
The Columbia University Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) has developed this Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ) policy to ensure that all employees, students, officers, and
researchers from the Columbia University Morningside Campus are adequately protected
from any potential indoor air quality problems. The intent of
this policy is to demonstrate the protocol that will be followed when
an IAQ complaint or concern is brought to the attention of the
EH&S office.
Policy Implementation and Funding
Policy coordination and implementation shall be
provided by
the EH&S office. Funds and other resources necessary for the
implementation and administration of this policy shall be the
responsibility of each department, in cooperation with the EH&S
office. The cost of all IAQ related air sampling or abatement will be
charged to the area in which the problematic building, office, or area
belongs.
Information on Indoor Air Quality
Over the past decade, there has been an increased
concern
with IAQ in both the environmental health and safety field and general
public. Indoor air quality refers to the quality of air within
public buildings and private homes. Poor IAQ or "sick building
syndrome" are terms used whenever the occupants of these areas
experience adverse health effects that subside upon leaving the
building. The symptoms can range from headaches, fatigue, itching
burning eyes, skin irritation, nasal congestion, throat irritation, and
nausea.
Many
different types of indoor pollutants have been implicated as the
sources of IAQ problems including: airborne dust, bioaerosols; carbon
dioxide (CO2); carbon monoxide (CO); environmental tobacco
smoke; formaldehyde; ozone (O3); radon; and volatile organic
compounds (VOC's). Other environmental factors such as ambient
temperature, relative humidity, and ventilation also contribute to the
quality of your work environment.
Scheduling an IAQ Investigation
If you feel that the quality of air in your workspace
is poor
or making you ill, you should first notify your supervisor. If
your supervisor cannot resolve the issue through area management, or
other means, the EH&S office should be notified by your supervisor
at 854-8749. An IAQ investigation can be scheduled to find the
source of the problem.
Be
sure to
take note of important information regarding any health effects you
experience. This may include; what time of day you experience
symptoms, odors, visible contamination, water damage, etc. to assure
that the investigation is as accurate as possible.
Area
Management will be notified in advance of issues such as air
sampling or mold abatement, unless the investigation demands immediate
attention based upon the judgment of the EH&S office.
Arrangements to notify area management will be made as soon as the
unsafe condition is mitigated.
If
abatement
is necessary, it will be performed by an environmental firm that has
the capability to abate microbiological contamination. EH&S will
choose a firm that will perform the job in a manner that will ensure
the safety of the Morningside community.
What Does an IAQ Investigation Entail?
A typical IAQ survey may consist of an investigation
into the
following indoor air parameters. However, each IAQ survey poses a
unique set of circumstances that will dictate which of the following
areas are addressed.
- Building
Ventilation System
- Carbon
Dioxide Concentrations
- Microbiological
Contamination
- Temperature
- Relative
Humidity
- Dust
Concentrations
- Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOC's)
- Other:
formaldehyde, ozone, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, or acid gases
IAQ
Investigation Report
The IAQ investigation report will summarize the
findings of
all the investigated parameters and will summarize the results of the
air sampling. Based on the findings of the IAQ survey,
recommendations as to how to resolve any potential or existing IAQ
problems will be provided.
Copies
of
the IAQ report will go to all effected parties, which may include the
employee's supervisor or the involved Area Manager. It will be
the responsibility of the employee´s supervisor to relay the
results of the investigation to the employees. The EH&S
office will maintain files for each IAQ investigation.
Recordkeeping
All IAQ investigation reports will be retained in the
EH&S office.
EH&S Information
Morningside:
Environmental Health and Safety
S.W. Mudd Build, Suite 350
500 West 120th Street
New York, New York 10027
(212)854-8749 (Phone)
(212)316-4937 (Fax)
Mail Code: 2215
ehrs@columbia.edu
Medical Center:
Environmental Health and Safety
630 West 168th Street, Box# 8
New York, NY 10032
(212)305-6780 (Phone)
(212)795-5847 (Fax)
ehs-safety@columbia.edu
EH&S
Normal Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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