By Larry Hays, Vice President of Training, Environmental Support Solutions
Poor indoor air quality at work can worsen asthmatic symptoms for those people who suffer from the disease. Recent studies also suggest that certain indoor air contaminates can foster the development of asthma in people who have never had the disease and who are repeatedly exposed to contaminants while at work.
As a facility professional you are aware of the problems that can arise from concentrations of indoor air contaminants in a building. You have seen reactions confirmed from acute or chronic exposures to different toxins and allergens, in otherwise healthy people.
You know that success with indoor air quality (IAQ) remediation may be subject to some criticism, but your commitment to the remediation process can be clearly demonstrated by the documented efforts required by your plan. You understand that action must be taken to re-establish a reasonable standard of care for these otherwise healthy people, but what about people who come to you with a preexisting condition?
For example, what are your responsibilities to the person suffering from asthma? Do you assume any responsibility for a condition that existed before this person came to your facility? In order to answer these questions it is necessary to understand what asthma is and how asthmatic attacks may be triggered.
For more on this story go to http://www.environ.com/Newsletters/IAQ_Newsletters/iaq_newsletter_052101.htm.
Based on materials received by FMLink from environ.com
