Occupational Hygiene: Maintaining Quality Indoor Air for a Comfortable and Safe Working Environment

Running head: OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE
1
OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE
Your Name
Date
Instructor Name

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE 2
Abstract
The quality of the environment in the indoors is inherently dependent over the operation
and the design of the environment of the building’s control system. A healthy and a peaceful
environment in the indoors is one of the essential factors contributing to the surroundings in
terms of comfort, productivity, the sense of health and well being. Quality and good air quality
is an essential component for healthy indoor environment. The practical guide towards the
quality of the indoor air cannot actually overlook the humidity and the temperature since the
concerns related to the thermal comfort underlie many of the components regarding the
degrading air quality. The research proposal sets out a vivid overview of the maintenance
program for the air condition system for ensuring the best quality of air of the indoors inside the
building together with a comfortable and safe working environment.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE 3
Introduction
Good indoor quality of air enhances the comfort, health and the productivity of the
workplace of the occupant. The quality mainly refers to the quality in indoor office, classrooms,
and the environment of the laboratories or the residential rooms of the building as opposed to the
industrial settings. These areas generally include natural ventilation from the windows that are
accessible or the mechanical ventilation from the ventilation, heating and the air conditioning
system (HVAC) system (Kumar et al. 2016). The quality of the air in the indoors illustrates the
effect of indoor or inside air on the health, comfort and the ability of the person towards their
productivity (MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MALAYSIA, DEPARTMENT OF
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH 2010). Factors such as the humidity, temperature,
bacteria, poor ventilation, mould, and exposure to the chemicals has become a matter of the
increased concern of the public concern regarding the degrading quality of the indoor air.
According to the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 by the department of
occupational safety and health it is essential towards the increase in the compliances of the
designated workplaces (Godish 2016). Approved by the minister on the date of 30 August 2010,
this code of practice in the industry highlights the requirement of the good indoor quality of air
for a healthy environment in the indoors. The code of practice furthermore explains how the
degrading quality if the indoor air have high tendency to result in a variety of both long and
short term issues related to the health. Some of the health problems associated with quality
indoor air quality (IAQ) includes respiratory issues, irritation in the eye, allergic reactions,
pneumonia, bronchitis and other. Poor indoor air quality issue generally occurs in the buildings
which generally includes the system of Mechanical and Ventilating and Air Conditioning System

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE 4
(MVAC) that included air cooled split unit (Steinemann, Wargocki and Rismanchi, 2017). The
problems of the indoor air quality can also be for inadequate ventilation of the building. The
main aim of the code of practice of the industry has been drawn for ensuring protection of the
occupants and the employees from poor air quality in the indoors of the building which in turn
has higher tendency to adversely affect their wellbeing and health. Stipulated under the Section
15 of Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1994 (OSHA), the code of practice emphasizes on
the responsibilities of an occupier who undergoes the management of the work place of the
building (Bruce et al. 2015). The assignment illustrates a proposal of research regarding the
quality of air of the indoors and the maintenance program for the air conditioning system in the
building for ensuring the best and comfortable working environment.
Content
Literature Review
The indoor air and environmental quality are generally a combination of various
parameters like the quality and climate of the indoor air, the visual comfort and the thermal
comfort. According to various research studies, comfortable indoor air circulation improves the
productivity and the performance of the individual who live, work or study in the building.
According to the research study by Al Horr et al. (2016) indoor quality air takes into the
consideration various categories of air pollutants with regard of the relative humidity and the
indoor air temperature. The research study highlights the most common pollutants in indoor air
conditioning which are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ozone, sulfur dioxide,
dust and volatile organic compounds (MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MALAYSIA,
DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH 2010). The authors of the