Process of identifying and updating priority needs
he IRSST established even closer ties with its partners and clients. It held new consultations with employer and union associations, the CSST and its regional offices, and the public health network where they could express their needs in terms of research. It received over 200 requests.
The IRSST and the CSST adopted a common strategic plan o ensure greater complementarity in their efforts and greater synergy.
New guides
Three important guides, all highly anticipated, were published. Complementing the Stratégie d’étude de la qualité de l’air dans les édifices à bureaux (strategy for studying air quality in office buildings), the first guide concerned the prevention of microbial growth in ventilation systems, and was intended for building managers, ventilation system designers and preventionists. The second guide was an updated version of the Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants. he number of contaminants processed rose from 225 to 674 in order to include all substances listed in Schedule I of the Regulation Respecting Occupational Health and Safety. The third guide was titled Guide sur les prélèvements des échantillons biologiques (guide for collecting biological samples)..
Low-frequency electromagnetic field detector
The Institute signed an agreement with the Québec firm Ultra Optec, mandating it to manufacture and distribute a low-frequency electromagnetic field detector. This portable direct-reading device developed by the IRSST measures the intensity of electromagnetic fields between 50 and 750 Hz, for single-phase and three-phase currents.