Measured and perceived indoor environmental quality in process control rooms and offices of production facilities

Limited data exists on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of process control rooms and offices of production facilities. We investigated the IEQ in the process control rooms and offices of seven metal and forest industry facilities in Finland. Furthermore, 538 employees participated in a questionnaire aimed at assessing the prevalence of indoor environment-related (IE-related) complaints and symptoms. The results indicate that the ventilation was sufficient in 89 % of the process control rooms and offices studied, but in 9 %, the air supply was not functioning at all. The physical and chemical parameters complied with relevant requirements, standards, and national reference values in most of the process control rooms and offices. The concentrations of man-made mineral fibers (MMVFs) were high, and moisture damage was more frequently observed compared to other Finnish workplaces. Noise, smells, and impurities from the production processes were found to migrate into the process control rooms and offices. The majority of employees reported IE-related complaints, particularly those working in the process control rooms. The prevalence of symptoms was not higher than that observed among Finnish office employees in non-industrial workplaces. To our knowledge, this study is the first to present data on the IEQ of process control rooms and offices of production facilities. The findings suggest that, although the IEQ was at a satisfactory level in most process control rooms and offices, ventilation issues and the production process can adversely affect the IEQ and employees' perceptions. Future studies in production facilities across other industries and larger datasets are necessary. • We investigated the process control rooms and offices of production facilities. • Most IEQ parameters met established requirements, standards, and reference values. • Ventilation was inadequate in about 10 % of process control rooms and offices. • A majority of employees reported indoor environment-related complaints. • Symptoms were less common than among Finnish employees in non-industrial offices.