With government and corporate forces going beyond "the basics" of workplace safety, indoor air quality and general workplace environment issues have become a driver of sustained activity in offices and workplaces around the country. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Agency is paying attention, as are other government departments, and companies are doing their best to provide the top climates and indoor air environments for workers.

For a good beginning, to get a handle on environmental issues in business, top staff can choose from several options to bring their companies closer to a better environmental rating and compliance with all applicable regulations. Managers or small business owners can find:

1. On-site or seminar training solutions for learning about workplace air quality and health issues in the workplace.

2. Certification programs where staff can obtain credentialed in dealing with indoor air quality issues and business environmental issues.

3. Online training solutions for out of the way businesses where on-site is not an option due to where an office or plant is located.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find on-site training or seminars for environmental issues in the workplace

Seminars are one way to bring a number of staff members into a brainstorming program on how to really fix a corporate air quality issue. On-site training is another option.

I recommend: Trinity Consultants brings business environment issues training to cities across the country for helping business leaders learn about sustainable air dispersal and advances in workplace environment tools. OSHACampus.com provides on-site training for environment and safety issues for businesses.

Look at certification programs for workplace environmental issues

Another option is to get one of more staff members certified to handle different aspects of environmental regulation or monitoring through special programs designed to educate on these critical issues.

I recommend: Get staff certifications in air quality and environmental issues from the Association of Energy Engineers. This certification empowers a business leader to deal with issues in their own environments. Get more certification solutions at the Workplace Group.

Consider online training for environmental issues in business

For a business where seminars or on-site options are not convenient due to location, some online sites offer training solutions to help staff start thinking about how to boost environmental quality at their workplace.

I recommend: Staff at a company can get preliminary online training information directly from the federal U.S. Department of Environmental Protection online-the EPA pays attention to indoor air quality as part of a new focus on an interconnected ecology. Find online classes in environmental issues for business and air quality at Pollution Online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make environmental issues in business about your own resources - training is a tool, not an overall directive. Staff can learn from outsiders, but the charge to change a workplace for the better will still rest on internal work and problem solving.

Environmental issues in the workplace is a growing concern for companies, especially as it relates to employee health and safety. Bad air quality and ventilation as well as asbestos-riddled structures can lead to sick building syndrome, which can compromise the health and comfort of your employees. Not only can poor workplace environments reduce productivity, but research has shown they may be linked to asthma, lung cancer and other medical problems.

Employers need to take affirmative steps to ensure the health and welfare of their workers. Confronting the problem makes business sense by way of health management savings as well as low absenteeism and contained insurance premiums. To make sure they are in compliance, employers should consult EPA and OSHA guidelines and follow directives. If necessary, consult an environmental consultant to determine cost-effective ways to handle workplace environment issues. Here are things that you as an employer can do to combat health issues in the workplace:

1. Consult governmental guidelines to ensure compliance and reduce risk exposure.

2. Hire an environmental consultant to manage workplace environmental issues.

3. Train your employees about work environmental issues.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself regarding environmental issues in business to ensure compliance

You can find online EPA resources outlining issues such as air quality assurance, on-site wastewater management, and on-site remediation. Also read OSHA's handbook for small businesses.

I recommend: EPA Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, EPA Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Systems, EPA Guidelines for Environmental Management of On-site Remediation and OSHA Handbook for Small Businesses are online resources to give you a good start in complying with standards on environmental issues at work. You can find online EPA guidelines for several industries as well.

Consult with environmental experts to handle health issues in the workplace

At some point, you may decide you need to consult with an expert on environmental issues in the workplace. Check online and with local resources to find a consultant who can do site inspections. Determine what services you need and what experience you want in an environmental consultant.

I recommend: GreenBiz provides a downloadable guide for small businesses on choosing an environmental consultant. One choice, EBI Consulting, is a nationwide environmental management service that conducts on-site investigations and determines workplace compliance. SaveTheEnvironment.com has compiled a broad list of national environmental consultants.

Train your employees on environmental issues in business

Training your employees about business environmental issues is vital to complete workplace compliance and helps them assess potential health issues. You can find affordable resources, including DVDs and software, for on-site training.

I recommend: Environmental-Expert.com offers a list of companies that provide training on business environment issues. TrainUp conducts environmental training seminars for various industries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find guides and resources online to help you 'green' your office by finding cost-efficient ways to recycle smarter and take care of workplace environmental issues at the same time.

Today's businesses can't be casual in their efforts to ensure they are providing employees with a safe working environment. There is the threat of costly litigation from employees injured on the job because of an employer's negligence. There are also the stiff penalties from non-compliance with the government's environmental guidelines. Getting proactive in your approach to environmental compliance will help you avoid these high costs and will promote greater employee satisfaction with your company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Regulatory compliance assistance

Companies today are reaching out for regulatory compliance assistance from environmental consultants.

I recommend: Go to EBI Consulting to find out how an environmental consultant group can help you identify risks, reduce your liability and costs and help you build a safer and more productive work environment.

Site investigation

Site investigation refers to a consultant's evaluation of issues that impact your facility's environmental compliance.

I recommend: Payne Environmental explains the process of determining whether ground water issues exist or whether geological contamination exists at your facility's site. You'll also learn how to decide what action to take so you can reduce your liability and demonstrate your willingness to comply with remediation strategies.

Bacteria testing

Bacteria testing is a crucial factor in the site investigation that is done to determine a facility's environmental compliance.

I recommend: At Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories, you'll find out which products are tested for the presence of bacteria. You'll also get links to documents identifying the foods, food ingredients, and pharmaceutical and household products in which bacteria are commonly found.

Risk assessment protocol

A risk assessment protocol refers to a screening method environmental consultants use to detect environmental hazards in the workplace.

I recommend: Alp & Associates explains how a risk assessment protocol boosts risk management performance in general. You'll find a sample protocol and also learn what makes the protocol successful, which risks are considered and why experts suggest a flexible approach to risk management.

Asbestos

Asbestos has been defined as an airborne carcinogen that has been responsible for causing illnesses, including cancer, in those exposed to it.

I recommend: Learn what current research is saying about the health effects of asbestos, where it is usually found, what site inspections are done to test for its presence and how it is removed on the Bain Environmental website.

Environmental management

Environmental management refers to the many programs companies implement simultaneously to improve the quality of their workplace environments.

I recommend: Go to Cleghorn & Associates for an explanation of the five-pronged approach to environmental management. Find out how facilities are inspected to determine risks, how consultants provide corporate advisory services to ensure regulatory compliance and how businesses are using environmental models to help them make informed decisions.