Your workspace should provide adequate indoor air quality and be free of health hazards. If you are experiencing strong or offensive odors in your work area, follow the instructions below to make sure you know what to do and who to call.
- For extremely strong, irritating odors that are affecting your mucous membranes and/or respiratory system, you detect strong burning odors or see visible smoke:
- Notify your supervisor or Lab Manager/PI, and the appropriate emergency responders, depending on your location.
- Emory Main and Oxford Campus – Leave the area and call Campus Police at 404-727-6111.
- Yerkes Main Campus – Leave the area and call Campus Police at 404-727-6111; and notify Maureen Thompson at 404-275-0963
- Yerkes Field Station – Leave the area and dial 911; and notify Maureen Thompson at 404-275-0963.
- For any other non-immediately life-threatening odors (i.e. nuisance odors, musty odors, minor electrical burning odors, etc.):
- Notify your supervisor or Lab Manager/PI.
- Gather information regarding the odor, such as:
- What does the odor smell like (i.e. description)?
- Where do you notice the odor (i.e. location)?
- What time does the odor occur or is it present intermittently?
- How long is the odor present (i.e. duration)?
- Have there been any changes in your work area that may have caused the odor
- Report the odor, including all supporting information, to the appropriate responding facility contacts, depending on your location:
- Emory Main and Oxford Campus – Contact Campus Services Work Management at 404-727-7463.
- Yerkes Main Campus – Contact Yerkes Facilities at 404-290-1527.
- Yerkes Field Station – Contact Yerkes Facilities at 404-791-0578.
Contact EHSO at 404-727-5922 or email us at ehso@emory.edu if you have any questions.
Learn more at EHSO.Emory.edu.
