Whether it’s working in a small office environment or working in a large industrial workspace, it’s important to make sure that indoor air quality is of a high priority. One of the main reasons for staff members and fellow colleagues taking time off work is due to poor health and there are several causes of poor air quality in a working environment. It’s important to understand what the causes are of poor air quality so you can help to rectify them and produce a healthy working environment.
Household Items/Equipment
This would generally be more relative to an office working environment where there will be a lot of equipment and furniture scattered around the area. This can include items such as cleaning products, carpets, office furniture such as sofas and cushions and kitchen cabinets. How they contribute towards poor indoor air quality is through volatile organic compounds, more commonly known as VOCs. These are organic chemicals which are high in vapour pressure at room temperature which is released into the air. In some cases, the items can also produce this pressure with particles, making the air extremely unclean.
Dampness and Water Leaks
The retainment of building structures and commercial spaces should be important. Inspection of the premises should be done on a regular basis so that damage and leaks can be identified and restored. Common causes for dampness and water leaks can be from shower facilities. In doing so, there can be a build-up of bacteria and mould formation which can grow indoors and make indoor air quality levels poor.
Poor Ventilation Systems
Employers can purchase ventilation equipments which can help to reduce poor air quality and make sure employees are working in a healthy working environment. In implementing the correct ventilation methods it can help to contribute with the amount of fresh air from outside is entering the building and helps with flushing out the contaminated air that may have built up indoors. Investing in a good ventilation system means less chance of moisture buildup indoors and cleaner air from outside can be brought inside.
Cigarette Smoke
It’s likely that you’ll be hiring employees that are regular smokers. In which case, you should look to provide a designated smoking area for employees outdoors. If cigarette smoke is suffocated indoors it can cause a build-up of a range of chemicals including carbon monoxide, VOC’s and other particulate matter. All of this can contribute to poor air quality.
Building Materials
There are particular building materials that can also contribute to poor indoor air quality. This is because they can release harmful particles and gases into the air from the materials they’re formed by. When dealing with such equipment or materials, it’s important that relevant safety measures are in place and instructions are followed to ensure safe use. These materials can include glues, solvents, flooring, paints etc.
By identifying contributors to poor indoor air quality, it can help you to rectify the issues or help reduce the number of gases that are being released into the air by containing the contributors that are outlined in this post. A healthy working environment can lead to more productive and efficient workers.