INDOOR AIR QUALITY

 

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·       OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS

·       WORKPLACE MONITORING

·       VENTILATION

Ø    Local exhaust

Ø    Make-up air

Ø    Design

Ø    Recirculated air

·       SMOKING

 

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS

Worker exposure to a hazardous substance must not exceed the exposure limit specified in Schedule I, part 1 in the regulation. The table below is excerpted from Schedule I, part 1, and contains some common hazardous substances and their exposure limits.

 

Chemical name

8-hour

exposure limit

15-minute

exposure limit

Ceiling

Acetic acid

10 ppm

15 ppm

--

Acetone

750 ppm

1000 ppm

--

Ammonia

25 ppm

35 ppm

--

Carbon black

3.5 mg/m3

--

--

Carbon dioxide

5,000 ppm

30,000 ppm

--

Carbon monoxide

35 ppm

200 ppm

--

Ethyl acetate

400 ppm

--

--

Formaldehyde

--

--

2

Hydrogen sulfide

10 ppm

15 ppm

--

Hydroquinone

2 mg/m3

--

--

Isopropyl alcohol

400 ppm

500 ppm

--

Sulfur dioxide

2 ppm

5 ppm

--

 

Formaldehyde is designated as a suspected human carcinogen. Exposure must be reduced to a minimum. Formaldehyde may not be recirculated in the ventilation system. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-2001, Schedule I, part 1)

 

WORKPLACE MONITORING

Where the concentration of a contaminant could exceed the exposure limit and there are more than 50 employees at the workplace, the concentration must be measured at least annually. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-2001, 43)

 

VENTILATION

The employer must ensure that there is adequate ventilation of the workplace. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-2001, 101)

 

Local exhaust

Any localized source that emits vapours must be equipped with a local ventilation system. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-2001, 107)

 

Make-up air

Mechanical ventilation must provide air changes as per schedule III. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-01, 103)

 

Mechanical ventilation must have a fresh air intake to replace exhausted air. Contaminants must not be reintroduced. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-01, 109)

 

Design

A mechanical ventilation system must be designed, manufactured, and installed with state of the art techniques current at the time of installation. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-01, 101)

 

Recirculated air

A recirculation system must be designed to meet the following conditions: the concentration of recirculated contaminants is less than the exposure limit, a duct is provided to vent directly outside in case the system breaks down, and no contaminants are discharged into an area where none were present originally. Formaldehyde must not be recirculated. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 885-01, 108)

 

SMOKING

Smoking is prohibited in workplaces except in closed rooms set aside for the purpose. (Tobacco Act, 2 - 3)

 

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