• Occupational Health & Safety
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Legislative Compliance & Program Development
  • Roles and Responsibilities
• Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees
  • About Humber College JOHSCs
  • North Campus JOHSC
  • Lakeshore Campus JOHSC
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• Training Programs
  • Overview
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  • Employee Health & Safety Training - Supervisor Training
  • Student Worker Health & Safety Awareness Training
  • WHMIS
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• OHS Programs and Services
  • Accident Reporting and Investigation
    • Overview
    • Accident Reporting and Investigation Procedure
    • Reporting Work-Related Injuries
    • Factors to Consider During an Accident or Near Miss Investigation
    • Appendix A
    • Hazard Reporting Form
  • General Safety
    • Overview
    • Ladder Safety
    • Classroom Safety
    • Office Safety
  • Hazardous Materials
    • Hazardous Materials Overview
    • Hazardous (Chemical) Waste Disposal Procedure
    • Hazardous Materials Spill Procedure
    • WHMIS Procedure
    • Biomedical Waste Disposal Guideline
  • Indoor Air Quality Procedure
  • Office Ergonomics
  • Scented Product Guidelines
  • Smoke-Free Campus
    • About and FAQ
    • Smoking Cessation Resources for Employees
    • Wellness Resources
  • Student Unpaid Work Placement: Workplace Insurance Coverage - MAESD
  • Work Refusal Procedure
  • Working Alone
  • Workplace Assessments
  • Workplace Violence Prevention
  • WSIB Claims & Return to Work
    • Overview
    • Return to Work
• COVID-19 & Other Respiratory Illnesses Information
  • COVID-19 Measures
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• News and Announcements
  • Overview

Indoor Air Quality Procedure

Introduction

Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of air within an enclosed workplace. IAQ is a function of a number of parameters including outdoor air quality, the design of enclosed workspaces, the design, operation and maintenance of ventilation systems, the number of occupants in a room or building, occupant activities and the presence of contaminant sources.

With respect to assessing the quality of the indoor environment as it relates general parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide, Humber follows the guidelines set out by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards. The majority of indoor air quality concerns related to temperature and general building ventilation can be addressed through Facilities Management by dialing ext. 4444 or by placing an online Service Request. 

Specific concerns about possible workplace exposures to particular chemical or biological hazards should be brought to the attention of your manager or Occupational Health & Safety Services for investigation and assessment. For further information please contact Occupational Health & Safety Services.

Objectives

The objectives of this practice are to:

1. establish a mechanism by which IAQ concerns are to be reported, investigated and resolved, and
2. establish responsibilities for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality parameters.

Applicable Legislation:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O., 1990, Chapter 0.1 as amended
• Regulations for Industrial Establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 as amended
• Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents, R.R.0. 1990, Reg. 833 as amended

Applicable Standards:

• American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards; “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality” and “Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy”.

Related Environmental Health And Safety Policies And Procedures (Humber):

• Temperature Extremes in Work/Learning Areas Policy and Procedure

Scope

This practice applies, in its entirety, to North Campus and Lakeshore Campus East and West.

While Facilities Management and Occupational Health & Safety Services may act as resources to satellite locations (e.g. Transportation Training Centre, Community Employment Services Centres) the actual resolution of IAQ concerns at these locations will be the responsibility of the leasee/leasor.

Reporting And Response Procedure

A. Building Systems / Maintenance Concerns

Building system concerns are those that relate to the functioning and maintenance of a building’s mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Occasionally problems may also arise due to custodial issues.

Examples include :

• heating, cooling or ventilation malfunctions during regular operating hours (i.e. too hot, too cold, no flow through supply air diffuser)
• broken thermostats
• malfunction or failure of a local exhaust system (e.g. fume hood or other exhaust hood)
• odours due to construction/renovation projects in or around the building
• odours due to garbage that has accumulated because a pick-up has not been scheduled by the local manager through Facilities Management

1. Employees aware of a building system/maintenance problem are to report the concern to their supervisor/manager and Facilities Management (work order system: extension 4444).
2. Facilities Management will investigate and take corrective action as appropriate. Whenever possible, Facilities Management will advise the supervisor of the outcome of the investigation and any action taken.

B. Specific Or On-Going Air Quality Concerns

Specific or on-going air quality concerns are those that do not appear to be due to any obvious breakdown or malfunction of a building’s HVAC system, alone. For example, they may include concerns about specific chemical contaminants or mould. Typically these concerns are more complex in nature and therefore require more in-depth investigation.

1. Employees with a concern of this type should notify their supervisor/manager who should in turn contact Occupational Health & Safety Services.
2. Occupational Health & Safety Services will gather more detailed information regarding the concern by meeting with the supervisor/manager and employees involved.
3. Occupational Health & Safety Services will review this information with Facilities Management and seek input from Facilities Management regarding the design and maintenance of the HVAC system, possible sources of IAQ problems and any remedial actions taken to date.
4. If specific expertise is required to address the issue, Occupational Health & Safety Services will enlist the services of an external consultant experienced in occupational hygiene investigation.
5. The results of an investigation of this type will be shared with Facilities Management for consideration of the best course of follow-up action, if required. The results will also be shared with the supervisor/manager of the area and the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

Responsibilities

Employees

Employees are responsible for:

• reporting IAQ concerns to their supervisor and the Facilities Management Work Order System (ext. 4444)
• ensuring work area is clean and properly maintained
• keeping air supply diffusers and return grills free of obstructions
• reporting any damaged or malfunctioning ventilation equipment (e.g. local exhaust hood not functioning) to their supervisor
• properly using local ventilation systems (e.g. fume hoods) if applicable to their work activity/work area

Supervisors / Managers

Supervisors / Managers are responsible for:

• responding to IAQ concerns raised by employees
• reporting IAQ concerns to Facilities Management
• ensuring proper control measures (e.g. local exhaust hoods) are in place and employees are trained in their proper use
• ensuring proper storage of chemicals in keeping with applicable Acts and standards (e.g. Ontario Fire Code, WHMIS)
• reporting damaged or malfunctioning ventilation equipment to Facilities Management or their own service contractor, as appropriate, for repair
• advising/seeking advice from Facilities Management prior to the start of any unusual/non-routine activity that may affect the IAQ, to determine what steps may be taken to mitigate the adverse effects

Facilities Management

Facilities Management is responsible for:

• ensuring building ventilation systems are properly maintained and serviced
• following ASHRAE recommended guidelines, to the extent feasible, within budget constraints
• responding to IAQ concerns and conducting initial investigations
• working with Occupational Health & Safety Services to investigate and resolve more complex IAQ concerns
• ensuring own department and contractors follow dust control practices
• notifying departments/areas of maintenance or renovation activities that may adversely affect IAQ in their area (e.g. roofing, painting, floor refinishing, shut-down of ventilation system for repair), whenever possible
• investigating proposed changes to building layouts to ensure proper air circulation and satisfactory IAQ in renovated areas
• maintaining blueprints/drawings of ventilation systems
• maintaining housekeeping requirements, including floor and carpet cleaning, to control dust levels, while working within budget constraints

HR Services, Occupational Health & Safety Services

Occupational Health & Safety Services is responsible for:

• investigating specific or on-going IAQ concerns in consultation with Facilities Management
• upon approval, enlisting the help of external consultants to resolve complex or unresolved IAQ concerns
• consulting with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee about any proposed occupational hygiene investigation, and arranging to have a union (worker) member present at the beginning of testing, is they so choose
• providing reports and test results to the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee and others, as required
• liaising with the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Environment, as required

Joint Occupational Health And Safety Committee

The Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee has the right to:

• receive information and be consulted about proposed testing strategies for industrial hygiene investigations
• have a union (worker) member present at the beginning of testing
• receive information and reports regarding IAQ testing and results
• make recommendations regarding a course of action related to IAQ concerns

Indoor Air Quality Guidelines – Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Carbon dioxide concentrations are commonly used as an indicator of whether there is adequate ventilation within an occupied area. Human occupants exhale carbon dioxide and produce water vapour, particulates, biological aerosols and other contaminants.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard recommends that indoor carbon dioxide levels should be kept below the total of the outside CO2 level in parts per million (ppm) plus 700 ppm. That is, if carbon dioxide levels are kept below this combined value then it is likely that there is an adequate supply of outdoor air to sufficiently dilute odours and other contaminants commonly found in the occupied area. This guideline is not based on the toxicity of carbon dioxide, but rather as carbon dioxide being used as a surrogate measure for the adequacy of ventilation rates and occupant comfort. Typically outdoor CO2 levels are near the 400 ppm mark. Thus the combined value would be approximately 1,100 ppm.