Australians spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Therefore, you could assume that indoor air quality is closely monitored in places like schools, offices, hospitals or any regularly used building. This isn’t the case and poor air quality is costing the economy billions each year, with the US EPA ranking indoor air pollution among the top five environmental health risks (US EPA, 1993 – http://www.epa.gov/iaq/).

 

In warehouses, carbon monoxide poisoning is the main risk to workers. It can have dire effects on help, causing respiratory diseases and even cancer, along with other health effects.

 

Mercer industries are an Australian distributor of the E-instruments emission monitoring tools. One of which is the Indoor Air Quality monitor testing tool which helps you perform the most accurate IAQ parameter testing. This also tests for mould and other air-borne bacteria as well as carbon monoxide or various other parameters.

 

Your legal duties

New regulations for Occupational Health and Safety came into effect on 1 July 2007.  The OHS Regulations contain requirements for the control of risks associated with working in confined spaces. These obligations are addressed in Chapter 3 of the regulations.  The regulations impose obligations on employers and designers, manufacturers and suppliers of plant that includes confined spaces.

 

 Visit WorkSafe Victoria or the Department of Environment website for more information.

 

It is in everyone’s best interests to regularly monitor Indoor Air Quality to allow for prevention of issues rather than fixing the issues once they have arisen (often only found out when workers start getting sick).

 

Mercer industries are committed to increasing air quality in every aspect of society. Indoor Air Quality is a very serious matter that will continue to gather more public and government attention.

 

For more information about Indoor Air Quality and tools for checking it, call Mercer Industries on (03) 8788 1000 or