KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Employers and building operators should voluntarily implement the in the interest of the safety and health of employees.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said Sunday that this was because a survey by the Human Resources Ministry had shown that half of the major commercial and office buildings in the country were "sick" and posed a health hazard.

He said the ventilation systems in these buildings -- offices, restaurants, entertainment and Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality introduced by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health commercial building centres -- was poor and toxic pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and respirable particulates were easily inhaled by those inside the buildings.

"Sick building syndrome is caused by airborne chemicals, mostly volatile organic compounds, and the remedy to the problem lies in an effective air filtration, maintenance of air condition units and prevention of air vent obstruction," he said in a statement here.

He said all building operators must view the sick building syndrome seriously and take steps to comply with the code of practice with a two-year trial period to meet the international indoor air quality standards.
 

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