LOCAL AIR QUALITY EXPERTISE

 
   

What Is It?

In these days of congested traffic, ozone action alerts and spiralling health insurance costs, air quality issues are becoming an increasingly important factor in community life. Where do you find someone qualified to keep up with air quality issues and conditions, and related government regulations? They may be closer than you think. Although particular backgrounds will definitely prove helpful, an air quality expert could be anyone on staff with a willingness and time to devote to researching and staying current with the subject. This person can then offer information that has the greatest practical benefit to your community or organization. You can assign a staff member to become your local air quality expert, or you can ask a dedicated volunteer to take on this responsibility.

Shared Impact and Benefits

  • Education about air quality issues is a prerequisite for taking meaningful action to improve air quality and your local expert can provide both education and action possibilities.

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  • A local air quality expert can also provide information about the health impacts of poor air quality, and so stimulate action.

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  • Local expertise ensures first-hand knowledge and understanding of changing requirements for your jurisdiction or industry and the ability to intelligently select alternative paths to meet requirements.

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  • Local expertise also provides first-hand knowledge of incentives and financial assistance available to implement required changes.

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  • By appointing and/or training a local expert, you are creating a resource person who may also assist other public and private industries in taking action.

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Costs

Costs may include staff time for research and education, as well as funding the "learning curve" for a newly-appointed resource person. Some organizations may create a new position, at higher costs.

   
 

This Action Item can be implemented as a

POLICY
ORDINANCE
PROGRAM

 

How long does this take to implement?

While the actual assignment of the task may not take long, the process is ongoing and requires a long-term commitment from both the employer and the employee or volunteer.

   

  • There is no one standard for"air quality expert", so organizations may take different paths to achieve a degree of local expertise in air quality issues. Doing so, however, creates a vital resource to assist with education, planning and program development to address the critical air quality and related health issues facing the region.