Sat 3\/30\/2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dear\u00a0Editor\u00a0 —
Dr. Colleen Hays and I would like\u00a0to\u00a0submit\u00a0the\u00a0letter\u00a0below\u00a0to\u00a0The Oracle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This semester\u00a0there have been air quality problems seriously affecting students and professors. We believe\u00a0these stem from\u00a0the\u00a0change in cleaning chemicals during\u00a0the\u00a0semester break.\u00a0The\u00a0procedure
for lodging an indoor air quality (IAQ) complaint says: \u201cThe\u00a0agent responsible . . . may be chemical,\u201d* but does not include a cleaning agent on\u00a0the\u00a0list of causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We noticed that symptoms coincided with\u00a0the\u00a0use of\u00a0these chemicals in and near\u00a0the\u00a0classroom before or during class. Symptoms are: headaches, coughing, dry mouth, sinus problems, fatigue,
dizziness, chest tightness, itching, rashes, burning scalp, and eye, skin, respiratory and throat irritation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) says: \u201cThe\u00a0person or persons who are affected by\u00a0the indoor air quality shall contact\u00a0their supervisor\/department head. . . [who] will notify Facilities
Services (372-3227).\u201d (We were\u00a0told\u00a0to\u00a0contact Facilities as well. From our experience, it was also helpful\u00a0to\u00a0contact HR.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Facilities\u00a0then starts an investigation. But, if an IAQ complaint \u201cis complex or\u00a0the\u00a0agent(s) is\/are unknown,\u201d Facilities \u201cwill work with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).\u00a0The\u00a0investigation shall
be . . . based on\u00a0the\u00a0perceived degree of hazard.\u201d* Whose perception?
The\u00a0SOP says that if a more rigorous investigation is needed, \u201cthe\u00a0complainant will complete IAQ forms** . . . . [which] will be sent\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0supervisor\/ department head . . . .\u201d Do\u00a0they just keep\u00a0them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poor air quality can break down\u00a0the\u00a0immune system and can make one susceptible\u00a0to\u00a0more serious illnesses. Chronic exposure may change one\u2019s life by sensitizing\u00a0the\u00a0person. If you have headaches or other symptoms that appear while you are in class and\u00a0then subside,
report\u00a0the\u00a0problem\u00a0to\u00a0protect yourself and others. Good health is a precious right. We must work together\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0the\u00a0campus community\u2019s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* https:\/\/www.tntech.edu\/safety\/pdf\/Indoor_air_quality_SOP.pdf Julia K. Gruber, Ph.D. (formerly Baker)Associate Professor of GermanDepartment of Foreign LanguagesTennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN 38501Office: 931-372-3787Cell: 931-644-6165 Posted\u00a0Thursday,\u00a0May 16, 2019 BY KATE COOK, Herald Citizen<\/p>\n\n\n\n http:\/\/herald-citizen.com\/stories\/tech-says-no-sick-buildings-on-campus,34956?fbclid=IwAR2Nl14Mls-kTeUCbCcZgEdOga5SmJCCFwBHMM2bOF0LtlFEWj0V8whA_ug<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Letter to the HC editor by Jon Jonakin 5\/16\/19 Letter to the HC editor by Lachelle Norris 5\/31\/19 <\/p>\n\n\n\n This article was written in December 2018. http:\/\/herald-citizen.com\/stories\/matthews-daniel-on-techs-construction-plans,32203<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sat 3\/30\/2019 Dear\u00a0Editor\u00a0 —Dr. Colleen Hays and I would like\u00a0to\u00a0submit\u00a0the\u00a0letter\u00a0below\u00a0to\u00a0The Oracle. This semester\u00a0there have been air quality problems seriously affecting students and professors. We believe\u00a0these stem from\u00a0the\u00a0change in cleaning chemicals during\u00a0the\u00a0semester break.\u00a0The\u00a0procedurefor lodging an indoor air quality (IAQ) complaint says: \u201cThe\u00a0agent responsible . . . may be chemical,\u201d* but does not include a cleaning agent … Continue reading Letters and articles in response to environmental safety at TTU<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":214,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions\/214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/aaup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
** https:\/\/www.tntech.edu\/safety\/manuals.php<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
… living another year
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
http:\/\/herald-citizen.com\/stories\/tennessee-tech-and-sick-buildings,34943?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n