Ventilation is the process of introducing fresh air into indoor spaces while removing stale air. Letting fresh air into indoor spaces can help remove air that contains virus particles and prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release particles (droplets and aerosols) containing the virus that causes COVID-19. While larger droplets fall quickly to the ground, smaller droplets and aerosols containing the virus can remain suspended in the air. If someone breathes in virus particles that are suspended in the air, they can become infected with COVID-19. This is known as airborne transmission.

In poorly ventilated rooms the amount of virus in the air can build up, increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19, especially if there are lots of infected people in the room. The virus can also remain in the air after an infected person has left. Bringing fresh air into a room and removing older stale air that contains virus particles reduces the chance of spreading COVID-19. The fresher air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room.

Ventilation is most important if someone in your household has COVID-19 or if you are indoors with people you do not live with. Good ventilation has also been linked to health benefits such as better sleep and fewer sick days off from work.

Bear in mind that ventilation does not prevent COVID-19 from spreading through close contact and is only one of the actions you should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This is why it is important that everybody follows the guidance on how to stop the spread of COVID-19 all of the time, especially as it is possible to have COVID-19 with no symptoms. You can pass COVID-19 on to others if you are only symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Reduce the amount of time you spend indoors with people you do not live with

If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. 

Make sure you understand and abide by the current rules and restrictions on meeting others.

Besides, you should minimise the amount of time you spend indoors with people you do not live with or share a support bubble with. Avoid meeting people in spaces with a limited flow of fresh air such as rooms without ventilation or windows that are never opened. The risk is greater in small rooms as the concentration of virus in the air can build up more quickly than in larger areas.

Ventilation in the workplace and non-domestic settings

Ventilation should be considered as part of making your workplace or indoor public space COVID-secure. It is important to identify and deal with areas that are not well ventilated. The more people occupying an area that is poorly ventilated, and the longer they remain in it, the greater the risk of spread of COVID-19.

Control measures such as avoiding certain activities or gatherings, restricting or reducing the duration of activities, providing ventilation breaks during or between room usage should be considered alongside ventilation for reducing the risk of airborne transmission.

Any actions to improve ventilation should not compromise other aspects of safety and security (for example, avoid propping open fire doors), and should consider other consequences such as health and wellbeing impacts from thermal discomfort.

Employers should provide employees with clear guidance on ventilation, why it is important, and instruction on how to achieve and maintain good natural ventilation or to operate systems if there are user controls.

Make sure mechanical ventilation systems are maintained in line with manufacturers’ instructions. Set ventilation systems to using a fresh air supply and not recirculating indoor air, where possible. Assessing the requirement and performance of ventilation systems in many environments requires engineering expertise. In addition, ventilation design may be specific to the setting. For some existing and older buildings, ventilation systems may not have been designed to meet current standards and additional mitigations may be needed. If you are unsure, seek the advice of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineer or adviser.

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Chemicals may enter the body through four significant routes:

• Inhalation (breathing) – The most common way workplace chemicals enter the body.
• Skin contact – Some chemicals by direct or indirect contact can damage the skin or pass through the skin and into the bloodstream.
• Ingestion – Workplace chemicals can be accidentally swallowed if food, drink or even cigarettes are contaminated.
• Injection – Injection may occur when a sharp object like a needle punctures the skin and injects a chemical directly into the bloodstream.

Once the chemical has entered the body, it can be distributed anywhere in the body by the bloodstream. Regardless of the way the chemical enters the body, it can attack and harm any organ.

Effects of chemicals on the body

Some exposure to chemicals may result in immediate injuries such as chemical burns, while some exposure takes a toll over time. If repeated over the years of employment, even relatively minor chemical exposures can lead to life-changing medical conditions.

What are common injuries due to chemical exposure in the workplace?

Harmful chemicals and substances in the workplace are responsible for a large number of chronic illnesses and deaths that can be untraceable. This is due to the symptoms appearing after many years after the exposure instead of suddenly. Other injuries include:

• Burns
• Rashes
• Throat or lung injuries
• Nerve and neurological injuries

Tips to help prevent chemical exposure

• Substitute irritating workplace substances with more skin-friendly substances.
• Implement technical measures to reduce skin contact, such as capsuling machinery to avoid splashes on the skin.
• Rotate job positions among employees to limit more intense exposure to harsh environments.
• Wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks to prevent skin contact.

What are your rights if you are exposed to chemicals in the workplace?

• Receive workplace safety and health training in a language that is understood
• Be equipped with machines and other forms of equipment that are safe. If you believe that your work environment is unsafe or unhealthful, you may file a complaint with OSHA and request an inspection. 
• Employers are required to equip workers with safety equipment, such as gloves and harnesses, and lifeline for falls.
• Be able to report an injury or illness and get copies of medical records. In addition, have the ability to review records of work-related injuries and illnesses. 
• See results of tests taken to find workplace hazards 

10 steps to prepare before conducting CHRA

1. Find out whether your company has an existing CHRA report. Check the expiry date and make plans for renewal minimum 3 months before expiry.
2. Compile a chemical list according to work areas including those in supporting activities such as maintenance and scheduled waste. Develop Chemical Register as per DOSH format. For those who already have the Chemical register, update the list. Check with process owners.
3. Compile Safety Data Sheet all for chemicals that are listed in the updated Chemical Register.
4. Compile any documents that may relate to chemical usage in your company such as process flow, lay out drawing, training records, exposure monitoring reports, medical surveillance reports etc.
5. Identify a DOSH registered CHRA Assessor to conduct CHRA at your place. Criteria to check besides the PRICING, are (6), (7) and (8).
6. Request a valid license of the assessor (request them to show the license)
7. Put priority on an assessor that is familiar with your type of industry so that the assessment is more accurate and practical.
8. Ask around your SHO network to recommend an assessor so that you can pick a quality assessor without having to experience the bad ones. Quality assessor means quality content of a report.
9. During site assessment, check whether the assessor him/herself came to site for site walk and NOT sending his/her representative for site visit. REMEMBER: You are buying their skill to conduct CHRA. No replacement of skill is possible when it comes to qualitative assessment.
10. After the assessment process is completed, ask the assessor to give a target date for their report presentation and submission. Don’t let them drag you too long unless you are the one that cannot furnish them with the information required to complete the report.

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