Odor Investigation Protocol

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IUPUI ODOR INVESTIGATIONS

INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOLS
AND
EVACUATION AND/OR WORK STOPPAGE GUIDANCE CRITERIA

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In the event of a notification of unusual or objectionable odors, staff from the Department of Environmental Health & Safety (including Fire Protections Services) will respond to and investigate the odor situation. Utilizing all reasonable resources available, these staff will strive to identify the source of the odor and to quantify the causative chemical level.

The following will be considered during the course of the odor investigation:

• Staff, faculty, students or guests in the areas(s) affected by the odor may be asked to relocate to a designated location while the investigation is ongoing. Cafeteria, break, study, reading areas and the like may be utilized for such a purpose.
• Investigators may take into account the number of staff, faculty, students or guests exhibiting health effects and the severity of the effects. In the event a minority of individuals (approximately 20% of the individuals potentially affected) exhibit mild symptomology, investigators may request that the affected individuals be relocated while the investigation is ongoing.
• Investigators may take into account the time of the odor occurrence. For events occurring within the last 90 minutes of a work, clinic or class schedule, investigators may recommend to department administration that affected individuals be released early while the investigation is ongoing.
• All staff and faculty complaining of health effects (regardless of the severity) are to be presented with the opportunity to be examined by the health professionals at Occupational Health Services (OHS). Those with significant health effects should be strongly encouraged to be seen at OHS.
• All odor investigations involving complaints of health effects are to be reported to the Campus Industrial Hygienist or, in his absence, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety for further evaluation.
• In the event the source of the odor is found to be related to University activities, investigators have the authority to require that the activities generating the odor be ceased until such a time that the odors can be brought under control. Representatives from the University Police Department may be utilized as a resource should the offending party refuse to voluntarily cease activities.
• Investigators are to refer recommendations for the control of odors to the appropriate administrative personnel for subsequent follow-up and abatement. Investigators are to inform appropriate department representatives of the results of their investigation. Individual questions should be answered in a manner consistent with the EHS Mission Statement, Strategy and Values.

EVACUATION AND/OR WORK STOPPAGE GUIDANCE CRITERIA

The following guidance criteria are generic in design and are intended to define the scope of Environmental Health and Safety and Fire Protection Services (FPS) responsibility in ordering work stoppages.

It is anticipated that most major evacuations will be initiated by representatives of Environmental Health and Safety/ Fire Protection Services. However, department administration officials retain the right and responsibility to initiate an evacuation or work stoppage at any time they have reason to believe an immediate hazard or danger exists for their employees, students or visitors in the affected area, whether representatives of EHS/FPS are present or not.

EHS/FPS ORDERED EVACUATION / WORK STOPPAGE		DEPARTMENT ORDERED WORK STOPPAGE WORK STOPPAGE
For odor events which cause immediate, acute health effects for staff, faculty, students or guests of the University.		For odor events which cause minimal or no immediate acute health effects for staff, faculty, students or guests of the University.
In the event: Initial or subsequent investigations reveal a known source of hazardous materials which possesses a "significant"� exposure potential and health threat.		In the event: Initial or subsequent investigations indicate or reveal the odor to be a nuisance with little or no immediate or long-term health effects.
and/or On-site monitoring confirms exposure levels of concern, exceeding established exposure standards.		and/or On site monitoring does not indicate exposure levels of concern.
and/or In the absence of the ability to monitor levels, responders have reason to suspect exposure levels may exceed established exposure standards.		and/or In absence of the ability to monitor levels, responders do not have reason to suspect exposure levels exceed established exposure standards.
and/or Employees, students, patients or visitors exhibit significant health effects (e.g. headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, unconsciousness, etc.)		and/or Employees, students, patients or visitors sporadically exhibit mild or no health effects (e.g.headache, eye or respiratory irritation, general discomfort).
then An evacuation and/or a work stoppage may be ordered by the IUPUI Hazardous Materials Response Team EHS/FPS.		and/or Employees, students, patients or visitors do not complain or exhibit health effects but complain of the general aesthetics of the work environment (e.g. "The air just smells bad"�).
		then
		The decision to issue a work stoppage rests with the department administration (e.g. chairman, department head, dean or person in immediate supervision).
Examples:		Examples:
*Freon refrigerant leak in a confined area.		*Sewer gas odors originating from dry sewer traps.
*Vapors from a known chemical spill which impact adjacent areas.		*Common odors originating from industrial sources adjacent to the IUPUI complex.
*Natural gas leak in the area. *Asbestos dust generated from demolition or construction activities. *Smoke from a known fire which impacts adjacent areas.		*Non asbestos dust generated from demolition or construction activities. *Smoke or odors from overheated air handlers, elevator motors or fluorescent light ballasts.
Approved October, 1995
Richard Strong, Director Environmental Health & Safety		John Mulvey, Director Public Safety