Although physical environment specialists are usually consulted in the process of building many of the office spaces that so often prove to be an unfit home for their workers, the concern for aesthetics as well as the determination to save money often undermines more practical considerations.

I need oxygen!

As a member of Montreal's Health at Work team (a division of the CLSC) points out, "Office towers are," as we might expect, "designed in such a way as to minimize the costs of lighting, heating and air conditioning. Since the windows don't open, the quality of the air we breathe in the office depends on the quality of the ventilation system. If the supply of fresh air is too low, if the fans don't work properly or if they're turned off at night or over the weekend the air quality is seriously endangered. Typically, poor air quality will result in concentration problems, headaches and, in the long run, pulmonary difficulties."

Without getting into a lot of technical details, it is important to understand how ventilation systems work. First, in buildings with windows that don't open, the ventilation has to be artificial. A fan pushes fresh air from the outside through a series of pipes. This air reaches the various offices through ventilation openings and is sent back to the fan. It is then mixed with a specific amount of fresh air before going back into circulation. The supply of fresh air from outside is therefore essential to replenish the oxygen levels in the air that circulates in the offices. And this is where problems often occur.

A report by the Montreal Urban Planning Committee suggests that ten litres of fresh air per second is required to replenish the depleted oxygen levels of stale office air, while both Federal and Provincial standards call for only a quarter of this amount. As most experts admit, these governmental standards are far too low.

Nickie, who works for CN in an office inside Montreal's Central Station, is one of many workers to suffer through uncomfortable and unhealthy working conditions.

"A few years ago, our office was located directly beside the train station," she recalls. "We were regularly bothered by the diesel exhaust that came out of the locomotives. Under pressure from the employees, the company finally stepped up and did something about the situation. Thankfully, we've now moved to new offices although we're not without our problems over here either. Because our heating system is linked to the system next door, we have no control over the temperature in the offices. It's always hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter."

Even if employees like Nickie seek governmental intervention, they usually have to wait a long time before any changes are made. If a ventilation system is poorly designed, or if office lighting is insufficient, most companies will balk at making expensive renovations simply to pacify a small group of malcontents. Most often, employers will respond by falling back on their compliance with governmental norms.

So what can you do if the air quality, furniture, or lighting in your office is contributing to health problems?