Clean bill of health for Sedgewick Building

Air quality tests conducted in the Sedgewick Building have confirmed the building’s air quality meets all standards for office buildings. The testing followed a WorkSafeBC report in April 2012 citing employee health concerns. An environmental consultant recommended by WorkSafeBC conducted comprehensive tests in the late spring of 2012 and found no evidence of mould or building moisture problems or of anything that would represent a general health concern.

WorkSafeBC has issued a final inspection report that was shared with employees in late November indicating UVic compliance with all orders.

As part of the compliance report, the university will develop training for managers and supervisors, and update orientation and web resources for all staff with respect to hazard reporting, investigations and safety committee roles to improve internal communication.

Over the years, the university has responded to individual complaints and undertaken improvements to the Sedgewick Building, most significantly sealing off the building’s crawl space with a vapour barrier in 2011 to address complaints about an occasional “musty” odour in the building, and reactivating the ventilation system in 2012 to deal with slightly elevated carbon dioxide levels, the by-product of normal office activities and respiration by building occupants.

WorkSafeBC had ordered the university last April to conduct further sampling for airborne contaminants and take action to address any problems due to continued reporting by a few employees of symptoms such as chronic coughing and runny noses, itchy eyes and the onset of allergies when in the building.

WorkSafeBC is satisfied that the university has completed the appropriate building investigation and air quality tests and confirmed that the air quality meets regulatory reqirements.

Occupational Health, Safety and Environment will conduct periodic indoor air quality checks in Sedgewick throughout the next 12 months to ensure the ventilation system is operating as designed.