Medical Facility Undergoes Indoor Air Quality Sampling in Lab

It’s hard not to notice when a new, unpleasant-smelling odor appears in the workplace.  While  odors can be distracting, it’s important to concentrate on resolving the issue. The smell alone isn’t always enough to indicate how harmful the odor may be or what the root cause is. 

In the event of strange odors, what’s needed is a thorough, onsite assessment conducted by a certified industrial hygienist. An industrial hygienist can perform air sampling to identify if it’s an issue with indoor air quality, mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or other chemicals—and offer solutions for a safer work environment. 

Before a G2 industrial hygienist performs an onsite assessment, the client shares information about their affected environment. When a client in Portland, Oregon spoke of transient odors soon after moving into a medical facility, they mentioned that the facility underwent a complete renovation, including an upgrade to the HVAC unit servicing the laboratory. These details helped G2 tailor an industrial hygiene assessment unique to their situation. 

Breathing in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)—a large group of chemicals often found in cleaning, construction, and other household products—can cause difficulty breathing, nausea, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. In more serious cases, it can even cause cancer. 

The assessment consisted of two main components: VOC sampling and Photoionization Detector (PID) Monitoring. The intent was to gather more information about the presence of VOCs and Tentatively Identified Compounds (TICs). G2’s technology and thorough processes can detect airborne and non-specific VOCs, and provide clients with a conclusive air quality analysis. 

To learn how G2 protected the medical facility and its employees from VOCs, read the case study.