Good practices in managing work-related indoor air problems: a psychosocial perspective.
BACKGROUND
Indoor air problems at workplaces are often exceedingly complex. Technical questions are interrelated with the dynamics of the work community, and the cooperation and interaction skills of the parties involved in the problem solving process are also put to the test. The objective of our study was to analyze the process of managing and solving indoor air problems from a psychosocial perspective.


METHODS
This collective case study was based on data from questionnaires, interviews and various documentary materials. Technical inspections of the buildings and indoor air measurements were also carried out.


RESULTS
The following four factors best differentiated successful cases from impeded cases: extensive multiprofessional collaboration and participative action, systematic action and perseverance, investment in information and communication, and process thinking and learning. The study also proposed a theoretical model for the role of the psychosocial work environment in indoor air problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The expertise related to social and human aspects of problem solving plays a significant role in solving indoor air problems. Failures to properly handle these aspects may lead to resources being wasted and result in a problematic situation becoming stagnant or worse.
Lahtinen
Marjaana
M
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Uusimaa Regional Institute, Helsinki, Finland. marjaana.lahtinen@ttl.fi
Huuhtanen
Pekka
P
Vähämäki
Kari
K
Kähkönen
Erkki
E
Mussalo-Rauhamaa
Helena
H
Reijula
Kari
K
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019985:Benchmarking; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D017132:Workplace / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational