How Does OSHA Check Fumes?

OSHA gives workers the right to a safe and healthy workplace.

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requires that complaints or detection of fumes in the workplace be checked out. If a company's safety professional cannot determine and correct the problem, workers can call on OSHA to investigate.

When to Call OSHA

Workers can contact OSHA if fumes in the workplace are making people sick. Headaches, nausea, dizziness and vomiting are common causes of a "sick building." OSHA gives workers the right to call for an inspection if unexplained fumes or suspicious health symptoms involved several workers.

Walkaround Inspection

An OSHA inspector will walk around the workplace, checking for sources that might cause the symptoms workers are experiencing. An OSHA report states that over half the causes of worker illness is due to inadequate ventilation. The inspector will check for improper, broken or blocked ventilation, and common causes of indoor air contamination in the particular workplace situation. Causes around the outside of the building and in nearby workplaces will also be checked.

Taking Samples

An inspector will be prepared to take samples of air, water, toxic chemicals, flooring, roofing and other things that could be the cause of the fumes and ensuing illnesses. An approved lab will check these samples, and recommendations will be given to the employer to solve the problem of fumes.

References

• OSHA.gov: Indoor Air Quality Investigation, Chapter 3
• Environmental Protection Agency: Indoor Air Quality

Resources

• Workplace Hygience: Air Monitoring/Exposure Assessments