Who is responsible
Building owners, building managers and employers alike have a duty of care, to their occupants and employees to provide a safe and healthy indoor working environment. They must ensure that all reasonable measures are taken to minimize the levels of harmful airborne and surface contaminants in their buildings.
Allergies such as asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis, headaches, fatigue and breathing difficulties result from repeated exposure to microbes such as bacterial or fungal spores that are commonly found indoors. Exposure to these contaminants has also been shown to suppress the immune system, increasing the chances of infection. Air circulated by the air conditioning systems may also pick up and recycle a number of other bio aerosols and spread throughout indoor environment, resulting in further contamination and infection cases.
Current research suggests the even inactive organic dust, comprising the non-viable fragments arising from the fungal and bacterial matter within the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditions (HVAC) system, may cause symptoms of chronic illness. As a result, building occupants will still experience significant health complaints even in instances where viable airborne fungal and bacteria counts are at acceptable levels.
