Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 91-065-2206, Somerset County Assistance Office Building, Somerset, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7222450

Piacitelli, C

In response to a request from the superintendent of the office, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the Somerset County Assistance Office Building (SIC-8399), Somerset, Pennsylvania. Employees had complained of eye and skin irritation and fatigue, particularly during afternoon hours. Temperature and humidity measurements were generally in accordance with recommendations. Mold growth was not found. Levels of airborne contaminants were very low and not expected to cause the symptoms which the workers had reported. The carbon-dioxide (124389) level was such that it would be expected to cause complaints of air quality. When the investigation was conducted, the ventilation system was only partially operative. However, even when the system was in full operation, the measurements indicated that the supply of outdoor air to the building was well below recommended rates for office complexes. The author concludes that the complaints may have been due to substandard ventilation and exposure to cigarette smoke. The author recommends that more outside air be provided to the building and smoking be restricted to certain specified areas of the building.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7222450
• Report Number(s): PB-92-217892/XAB; HETA--91-065-2206
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AIR QUALITY
BUILDINGS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
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DISPERSIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
POLLUTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO SMOKES
USA
VENTILATION