Indoor Air Quality vs. Indoor Environmental Quality?
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is a broad term that describes occupant comfort in a built environment. Where the term Indoor Air Quality characterizes the condition of the air inside a building, IEQ goes further and includes sound, vibration, lighting and other variables that can impact the comfort of building occupants.
Health Complaints Relating to IEQ
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) complaints are common in the workplace, and can be costly to a business if not properly addressed. Worker grievances, whether founded or not, can reduce productivity, invite regulatory pressure, and even litigation. G2 provides consulting and monitoring services to our clients so that they can provide a healthy working environment for their employees and gain and maintain OSHA regulatory standards.
Common indoor air quality complaints from workers in the built environment include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Chronic or high frequency of upper respiratory illnesses
- Sore throat
- Eye irritation
- Runny nose or congestion
- Dry skin
- Rhinits
- Allergy-like symptoms
Building Related Illness (BRS)
These complaints can be assembled into a group of medical symptoms called Building Related Illness (BRS). The individual exhibiting these symptoms are said to have Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Typically, these symptoms abate when the worker is away from the building.
Certain risk factors have been found to have a consistent association with BRS. These include:
- Facilities with air conditioning
- Workers with allergies
- Job Stress
- Job Dissatisfaction
- Workers with Asthma
- Low ventilation rate
- High worker density
- Facilities with carpeting
Although many risk factors are legitimate, there are also many that have an inconsistent association with BRS, ranging from temperature, to dust, to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). G2 Consultants can quickly determine whether complaints are due to worker dissatisfaction issues, or if there are legitimate environmental concerns in the workplace that need to be addressed.
Indoor Air Quality Testing
G2’s consultants work closely with our clients to help them investigate, analyze, and monitor employee complaints in the built environment.
If legitimate environmental concerns are suspected, G2 Consultants will pinpoint the environmental hazard. This is done through a process of environmental testing.
G2 is equipped to assist our clients in making sure IEQ issues are addressed in a thorough, relevant and cost-effective manner.
Once samples are analyzed and the results scrutinized, a proper conclusion can be given and an action plan established. Our G2 consultants are here to partner with you and your business in attaining and maintaining a healthy working environment.