HSA: New Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has become a focus point in recent years for employers. Employees spend a significant amount of time indoors, and the quality of air within indoor work environments has a direct impact on the health, well-being and productivity of those workers. The Health & Safety Authority (HSA) have issued a new Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality.

Contributing factors to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) include poor external air quality, inadequate or poor ventilation, and exposure to a range of chemicals, biological agents and other contaminants in the workplace air. Poor IAQ can cause a variety of both short-term and long-term health problems.

This Code of Practice provides a practical risk assessment approach to help employers make a reasonable determination of IAQ in their workplace. It also provides a practical risk assessment approach to help employers make a reasonable determination of IAQ in their workplace.

In addition, the Code aims to provide practical guidance on managing IAQ in the workplace (specifically to employers and employees) on:

• improving IAQ;
• improving ventilation in workplaces;
• establishing a set of acceptable values for specific chemical and physical parameters; and
• describing mechanisms to identify, evaluate and control IAQ issues.

You can read the Code of Practice, or visit hsa.ie for more information.