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Evaluation of Indoor Environmental Quality and Health Concerns in a Commercial Office Building Near a Helipad
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2017/06/01
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Source: Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2015-0037-3283, 2017 Jun; :1-23
[PDF-1.66 MB]
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Description:The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from employees working in a commercial office building. They were concerned about potential exposure to fuel and other chemical odors that were believed to be from a nearby helipad. The building was also located near two large ferry terminals and a major highway. The employer reported that they had received employee complaints about fuel or chemical odors since moving into the building in 2009. Since 2012, over 300 odor incidents had been documented. The incidents included employee symptoms such as respiratory tract irritation, burning eyes and skin, headaches, and increased asthma symptoms. On the basis of our employee interviews, workplace observations, and document reviews, it appears that transient odors from nearby external sources such as a heliport, ferry terminals, emergency power generators, and a highway are likely entering the building's outdoor air intakes and resulting in periodic fuel odor complaints. The odors could be contributing to employees' symptoms. Helicopters are likely the predominant source of transient odors due to the proximity of the heliport to the building's outdoor air intakes. The current use of activated charcoal filters within the ventilation system is ineffective in capturing and removing odors from outdoor air. Ventilation controls, such as filtration, are unlikely to eliminate the problem. Strategies to reduce the fuel odors include removing or reducing the sources of the external exhaust. Although we interviewed a small percentage of the total workforce, most interviewed employees who reported health symptoms of sinus congestion and upper respiratory irritation reported that the symptoms occurred when fuel-like odors were present. We recommended a comprehensive ventilation assessment, testing emergency generators only on weekends, working with municipal authorities on ways to reduce helicopter traffic near the building, and implementing a fragrance-free policy.
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Pages in Document:30 pdf pages
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Contributor:Booher, Donald E.;Galloway, Ellen;Mathew, Rini;Moore, Kevin;Watts, Shawna;
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NIOSHTIC Number:20049996
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NTIS Accession Number:PB2017-102399
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Citation:NIOSH [2017]. Evaluation of indoor environmental quality and health concerns in;a commercial office building near a helipad. By Zwack LM, West CA, Burton NC,;Garcia A. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for;Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,;NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2015-0037-3283,;
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Federal Fiscal Year:2017
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Peer Reviewed:False
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Resource Number:HHE-2015-0037-3283
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