The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHAct) of 1970 was enacted to assure every worker in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources. The OSHAct recognized that injuries, diseases or discomfort arising from employment have a negative impact on the economy in terms of lost production and wages, as well as the cost for medical expenses and disability compensation benefits.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) came into official existence on April 28, 1971, the date the OSHAct became effective. The discipline of Industrial Hygiene is primarily concerned with the control of occupational health hazards that arise as a result of or during work. Industrial Hygiene has been defined as "that science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among the citizens of the community."

Indoor air quality, IAQ, covers a broad range of issues. Some of the items that fall into IAQ may be temperature extremes, elevated relative humidity, stuffy air, odors, sleepiness, headaches, and sinus congestion. Any of these issues should persist for two or more weeks and affect 25% of the occupants before being considered to be related to the building. Individual sensitivities will cause each person to react differently.

The presence of transient odors does not necessarily constitute poor indoor air quality. Transient odors may include smells pulled in on the outside air such as vehicle exhaust or roofing repair work and paint or construction odors within a building. This is not to say that some transient odors will not cause short term headaches or mucous membrane irritation. Generally these odors are short-lived and do not present a long-term health hazard.

Indoor air complaints are investigated by Courtice|Grason. Investigations may include temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, and mold and bacteria concentrations. Additional parameters may be checked depending on the specific complaint. Repair, equipment modifications, and evaluations are conducted by Maintenance and Operations. Special room cleaning and disinfection may be conducted by Building Services when necessary. If you have questions or would like to report an indoor air problem please contact us .