NIOSH Investigates Office Renovation That Led to Health Complaints
A new health hazard evaluation report details a NIOSH investigation of health complaints at an office building that was undergoing renovation. Among the affected workers were 36 employees of two state agencies housed in the building.
Built in the 1950s, the building was being renovated to accommodate a medical practice. The renovations involved plumbing work as well as the cutting of concrete and its removal with a diesel-powered excavator. One day, following the application of glues containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on plumbing caps and traps, employees complained about the odor from the glues and experienced health symptoms including ear pain, blurry vision, chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, vertigo, eye irritation, and headache. About one-third of employees in one of the agencies left early. When they returned days later, the employees continued to experience health issues, and some were taken to the hospital. The local fire department used direct-reading instruments to monitor the space for carbon monoxide, combustible gas, hydrogen sulfide, and oxygen, but all readings were normal.
An epidemiologist invited NIOSH to evaluate the building. When NIOSH personnel visited a few weeks after the first health complaints, they found problems with indoor environmental quality throughout the building. Some offices did not receive air from HVAC units, and some HVAC units did not provide cooling. Gaps between sheetrock and ceilings indicated that the renovated area was not isolated. Investigators noted the presence of mold, water damage, and the use of fragrances in the offices, and an open glue container in the renovation area. They also found that the paint in one of the building rooms contained lead.
The agency’s recommendations included isolating the renovation area by closing gaps between walls and ceilings, maintaining the ventilation system according to ASHRAE standards, repairing HVAC units, correcting problems with mold and dampness, and hiring a licensed professional to remediate the lead paint.
The investigation occurred in August 2019, but the report was only recently posted to the NIOSH website. For more information, refer to the report (PDF).