1. Karl Kuhn Former Chief Scientist and Senior policy Adviser in the Federal Institute for Occupational Health and Safety TAIEX Workshop on EU legislation on OSH Internal Market 53901 TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20131

2. Indoor climate TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20132 Healthy indoor climate Ch. Substances, Formaldehyde, fine dust, VOC, SVOC Biological parameters: mold, germs Thermal comfort, CO2 Fibers, dust, asbestos, Radiation, ionizing and non ionizing (radon) Noise, vibration Light VOC =volatile organic compounds

3. Thermal Comfort (EN ISO 7730) TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20133 Uncomfortable, humid uncomfortable, dry comfortable Still comfortable temperature relative air humidity

4. 4/12 Multi-meter to monitor environmental parameters - air temperature - (relative) air humidity - atmospheric pressure - air velocity - check of electricity - a.s.o. PORTABLE MEASUREMENT DEVICES (some selections) -orienting measurements by inspectors- TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 2013

5. Colonization of indoor mold growth  occurrence of moisture problems or water damages:  Building deficiencies  actual damages  Change the room climate due to restructuring measures  Inadequate removal of very moist air TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20135

6. Allergies caused by mold? All fungi can cause sensitization or allergy, but only for a few species is a sensitizing / allergenic effects known and described 3-10% of the total population are sensitized to fungi: tested species are exclusively in the outside air frequent fungi (Cladosporium sp, Alternaria alternata. A. fumigatus) Interior: 80 abundant species, of which only 18 to the allergy testing are available of which only 6 associated with mold problems in the interior, only 3 of them are so-called "Wet pointer" TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20136

7. How can you measure mold? TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20137 Direct, without removing material (semi quantitative) poor copy / swabs, Scotch tape preparations microscopy Directly after use! Placed on culture media and cultivation Indirectly, the material removal (quantitative) Suspension of the sample in solution and cultivation There are no threshold values

8. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20138 Lightning Readability Direct glare, reflection Visual strain change Eyes Psycho Musculoskeletal system Keyboard, Text content Density Illumination Illumination technique Reflection factor of equipment, furniture and surfaces Position of furniture etc Rate of vision changes illumination Daily light Working system: Vision and perception

9. Lightning: EN 1264-1 (2003) The norm requires a horizontal illuminance level of 500lx on the working plane for activities such as writing, reading and typing. In the surroundings of the desk, up to 0.5 meter around it, the lighting level should be about 300lx. In the remaining area of the workspace an illuminance level of 200lx is recommended. Light has profound influence on psychobiological processes TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 20139

10. 10 CD/m² % CD m² Light Density L (cd/m²)

11. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201311 Recommended horizontal illuminance levels for work conditions in 19 countries (figure from Mills & Borg, 1999)

12. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201312 Illuminance measurement equipment and luminance camera

13. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201313 cd lx m² illuminance E (lux) Illuminance is the luminous flux per unit area at a point on a surface. It is measured in lux (lumen/m2). Going backward – luminous flux is that quantity of radiant flux (watt) which express its capacity to produce visual sensation (in lumen) (Boyce, 2003).

14. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201314 - for measuring light intensity - meas. range 0 to 100.000 Lux

15. Desk lightDIN 5035-8 TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201315

16. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201316 S patially based lightning Working area lightning Surface related lightning

17. Noise as risk factor TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201317 General performance- 9 Writing failures+29 Accounting failures+52 Sick leave cases+ 37

18. Definitions The daily noise exposure level (LEX,8h) is the time- weighted average of the noise exposure levels on the basis of an eight-hour shift. It comprises all noise events occurring at the workplace. The weekly noise exposure level (LEX,40h) is the time- weighted average of the noise exposure levels based on a 40-hour-week. The peak sound pressure level (LpC,peak) is the maximum value of the instantaneous sound pressure level. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201318

19. Noise below the limit value The exposure to ‘noise levels below the limit value’ is perceived as an emerging risk leading to ‘fatigue and inefficiency’, which may increase the occurrence of oc- cupational accidents. Low-level noise in open-plan offices generated by equipment such as photocopiers, computers or ventilation systems, or by the ringing of a telephone impairs concentration and communication and increases the workers’ mental and emotional strain ( Canada Safety Council: ‘Office health and safety — noise and acoustics’. http://www.safety-council.org/info/OSH/noise.htm). http://www.safety-council.org/info/OSH/noise.htm Non-relevant conversations of colleagues also affect a worker’s performance. Recent studies show that it is less the content of the conversation than the acoustic variation of the noise which plays a role ( AMI: Health effect of noise in the work environment (work- related noise). 2004. http://www.ami.dk/Nyheder/Nyhedsarkiv/2004/Helbredseffekt er af st %C3 %B8j i arbejdsmilj %C3 %B8et.aspx?lang=en http://www.ami.dk/Nyheder/Nyhedsarkiv/2004/Helbredseffekt er af st %C3 %B8j i arbejdsmilj %C3 %B8et.aspx?lang=en ). TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201319

20. Noise as an occupational hazard The distinction between a sound and a noise is very subjective. It is particular to each person, and to time and place. Noise is best described as any unwanted sound. A variety of sounds can be heard in the average office- anything from the sound of a ringing telephone to the background hum of a ventilation system. Some sources of noise can be minimized with minor adjustments. Others, such as the noise from the ventilation system, may require major alterations to building systems. Sources of equipment-generated noise include telephones, photocopiers, computers, or other office equipment. Equipment- generated noise is usually transient and the sensitivity to equipment sounds varies from person to person. For example, the noise generated by running a photocopier may not annoy the operator, but it may be distracting to people in adjacent work spaces. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201320

21. No binding limit value for office work For noise in the office, there are no legally binding limit values ​​, but protection objectives on which the design of jobs must align TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201321

22. Recommendations for noise levels of 35 to 40 dB (A) at very high concentration requirements as for demanding clerical work like programming or scientific work (see Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, "Scientific knowledge work" AR 124) From 35 to 45 dB (A) in concentrated, mainly mental work (see DIN EN ISO 11690, AR 124) From 40 to 45 dB (A) for necessary communication with customers and request to a very good speech understanding (cf. DIN EN ISO 9241 part 6) From 40-50 dB (A) in call centers and computer work in a commercial environment (see AR 124, knowledge storage Call Center of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) From 45 to 55 dB (A) at a routine office work (see DIN EN ISO 11690) maximum of 55 dB (A) at predominantly mental activities (see BGI 650, VDI 2058) with decision-making and problem-solving tasks, complexity or good speech intelligibility Maximum of 70 dB (A) at predominantly simple or mechanized office work, but there is hardly to find such work today TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201322

23. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201323 Recommendation Limit value Rating level

24. The most common muscular complaints employees in the office are neck pain and headaches, neck-shoulder-arm syndrome or cross and back pain Risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints, the following strains were identified: Inadequate equipment and furniture (especially of working table and chair) Unfavorable positioning of the main work equipment keyboard and screen Missing system ergonomics (adaptation and balancing of work equipment and furniture to the environment) Poor working task with repetitive movements Too long daily working on the screen with too few breaks and little position change TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201324

25. VDU work and MSD At VDU workplaces in ordinary occupational settings, perceived muscular tension and emotional stress correlated with musculoskeletal pains and physical load in terms of muscle activity in the trapezius muscles (Joksimovic, Starke, v. d. Knesebeck & Siegrist, 2002; Nahit et al., 2003; Wahlström, 2003). More generally, stress and mental demand related to computer work increases the muscular activity and is positively associated with an increased prevalence of MSDs (Laursen et al., 2002; Smith, 1997; Smith, Conway & Karsh, 1999). Therefore, attention should be paid to the ergonomic design of the working equipment (Smith, 1997). A mentally difficult job, mental exhaustion after a work shift, as well as intense time pressure, are all factors identified as psychosocial risk factors causing musculoskeletal symptoms (Gunnarsdottir, Rafnsdottir, Helgadottir & Tomasson, 2003). TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201325

26. TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201326 Table + Chair (+footrest) = a system Example: office workplace Chair Table Higher adjustable, better fixed If needed footrest Measures in cm Steadiness

27. TAIEX Workshop Ankara,7-8th October 2013 Back pain (BASA) Source: G.Richter, BAuA 27

28. Risks and hazards When sitting at a 90 degree angle (middle posture) increases the disc pressure in comparison to standing by 20-40% (Schultz et al., 1982). In the front, i.e. bent forward posture, the pressure on the intervertebral discs in the lumbar region, however, is almost twice as high as in the upright stand TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201328 Alternative chairs

29. kkuhndo@t- online.de TAIEX Workshop Ankara, 7-8th October 201329