Abstract |
Nearly 4000 employees of a Federal Agency in Washington, DC were surveyed in March of 1989 to determine their health symptoms, comfort concerns, and reports of odor during the previous year. Their personal characteristics and perceptions of workplace conditions were also determined. A multivariate regression analysis indicated that the workplace variable affecting the largest number of health symptoms and comfort/odor concerns was dust. Perceptions of hot stuffy air and the odor of paint, carpet cleaning, and other chemicals were also associated with a number of health symptoms. Other workplace variables associated with comfort and odor concerns included glare, noise, and nearby water leaks. In most cases, individual air handling units could not be associated with health symptoms. Areas with new carpet reported higher frequency of throat problems. It was concluded that improved maintenance, better recirculation and filtration of air, and glare screens were desirable to improve employee health and productivity. |