Sedgewick Building air quality tests to be conducted

The University of Victoria is conducting air quality tests in the Sedgewick Building following an April 16 WorkSafeBC report citing employee health concerns. The university has hired an environmental consultant recommended by WorkSafeBC to conduct the tests, which will occur within the next several weeks. The test results and any recommended actions will be shared with employees.

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 earthy odour in the building.

Air quality tests after the remedial work found that airborne mould spore concentrations indoors in Sedgewick’s C Wing were similar to those found outdoors, but testing was not done throughout all three Sedgewick wings.

An internal ventilation system was also turned back on (it had been turned off due to staff complaints about cold, blowing air some time earlier) to deal with an issue identified by air quality testing around levels of carbon dioxide in offices that, with doors and windows closed for extended periods, were found to be above WorkSafeBC standards for indoor air quality comfort.

A few employees report symptoms such as chronic coughing and runny noses, itchy eyes and the onset of allergies when in the building.

WorkSafeBC has ordered the university to conduct further sampling for airborne contaminants and take action to address any problems, to make improvements in systems to report, investigate and address the health and safety concerns of workers in a timely manner, and to report to WorkSafeBC the measures taken.

The WorkSafeBC inspection report has been made available to all employees working in the Sedgewick Building and UVic Occupational Health, Safety and Environment is working with units in Sedgewick to provide further information to employees.