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Ventilation

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Overview

Ventilation is essentially the intentional introduction of outside air into a space. That space could be as large as an entire building or as small as a sewer hole. In large spaces, ventilation is necessary to keep workers comfortable and healthy; in small confined spaces, ventilation may be necessary to keep them alive. Ventilation is one of the most important engineering controls for improving or maintaining the quality of the air in an enclosed space. 

Mechanical ventilation uses fans to move air into a space. Remove the fan and you are left with natural ventilation. Don’t confuse ventilation with air that is simply moved around indoors – with a ceiling fan, for example. Access to outside air is essential for ventilation.

There are ventilation requirements in Oregon OSHA’s general industry, construction, and agriculture rules.

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