Indoor air quality determines how the air in the office or building affects employees’ health, performance, and comfort. Companies should take serious measures to ensure the indoor air quality is good, as it could affect business operations. Indoor air pollution could cause health problems, so the number of absences could increase. If employees continue to work, they may not feel comfortable, thus affecting their performance and productivity. There are several causes of poor indoor air quality, including the following:
- Inadequately maintained HVAC system
- Old or dirty air filters
- Air contaminants from chemicals like cleaning products
- Poor ventilation
- High level of moisture
You could do things to improve indoor air quality in the workplace, and we listed them below.
Ensure proper ventilation
Ventilation means bringing outdoor air indoors to displace contaminants. Poor ventilation could increase pollutants inside the building, causing allergies, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. An easy way to improve ventilation is to let fresh air come in by partly opening windows or doors. However, if the workplace does not allow this, you should have a mechanical ventilation system set up.
Get professional HVAC maintenance
Your HVAC system accumulates dirt and dust over time, negatively affecting the indoor air quality at work. Regular maintenance of your system will keep it clean, thus eliminating contaminants. It will also detect potential issues and fix them before they blow up. In addition, it will keep your HVAC running efficiently, providing comfort to the employees, and lowering energy consumption. However, if the system is in bad shape, it will work harder to achieve the set temperature, leading to a higher energy bill.
Moreover, it could shorten the lifespan of the unit. Businesses located in Brighton looking for professional heating and services in air conditioning in Brighton can get help from local HAVC service providers. Dealing with local specialists is more convenient as they can attend to your needs faster when needed.
Make the office eco-friendly
An environment-friendly office can effectively improve air quality. One way to turn your workplace into one is by using green products, such as chemical-free and non-toxic cleaning solutions. Adding plants inside the office is also beneficial as they can help clean indoor air. Moreover, plants have a calming effect, which allows employees to relieve stress and feel more relaxed.
Turn the office into a non-smoking zone
Cigarette smoke is another common pollutant in the workplace. It contains thousands of chemicals that can be toxic, causing various health concerns, especially those that affect the respiratory system. Make your workplace smoke-free to protect employees who are non-smokers and to improve the overall air quality. If it’s not possible to implement it in the entire work premise, at least have a dedicated smoking area for smokers outside the building.
Invest in air-cleaning equipment
There is commercial-grade equipment that you can get to help clean the air in the office. Examples are air purifiers and scrubbers. If there’s a high humidity level in the workplace, a dehumidifier can take the problem. However, too much moisture could cause mould and mildew growth.
You may also want to get air quality testing as this is the most accurate way to determine indoor air quality.
