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October 25, 2021

6 Tips for Improving Workplace Indoor Air Quality



Indoor air quality
at the workplace is essential for your employees' comfort and their health. Poor indoor air quality affects workers' health and can manifest symptoms like headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritation, trouble concentrating, fatigue, and irritation in the lungs. Other diseases linked to indoor air contaminants include asthma, which is associated with a damp environment.



Some factors that lead to poor indoor air quality are inadequate ventilation, high or low humidity, problems controlling temperature, recent remodeling, and other activities in or near your building that can affect airflow. Here's how you can improve workplace indoor air quality.

1.Regularly clean and maintain your HVAC system

HVAC ducts circulate clean warm or cold air throughout your office. However, dust, debris, mold, bacteria, and other things accumulate in the air ducts, affecting the heating and cooling system's ability to regulate the air. This may lead to infections and may also spread bad odor around the office. Considering air ducts are hard to reach areas that are difficult to clean, hiring professionals such as RoboVent will ensure quality airflow.

2.Control the source

Source control is adequate to ensure quality indoor air as it seeks to eliminate the pollution source. Sources such as asbestos can be sealed or enclosed, while gas stoves can be controlled to reduce emissions. Other sources you may consider are secondhand smoke, heaters or chimneys, pesticides, indoor particulate matter, and more. Learn about each pollution source in your workplace and how to control them, ensuring quality air.

3.Use air cleaners

The ideal air cleaner depends on its effectiveness in collecting pollutants from indoor air and how much air it passes through the filtering or cleaning element. To ensure the effectiveness and functionality of your air cleaner, ensure it is adequately maintained. Consider using portable air cleaners to supplement the HVAC system, ventilation, and filtration.

4.Add plants for clean air

Some plants are known as natural purifiers as they absorb toxins from the air. Plants like the spider plant philodendron and golden pothos help remove volatile organic compounds and toxins such as benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and toluene. Adding plants in your workplace can also help reduce stress, improve work performance, and lower symptoms of ill health.

5.Monitor carbon dioxide levels

Normal daily activities such as cleaning, building operations, and more can contaminate indoor air by producing volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. While testing and quantifying each possible pollutant may be challenging, you can install carbon monoxide detectors at strategic locations around the workplace to detect and measure carbon dioxide levels. Considering the occupant density in your office can also help control carbon monoxide levels.

6.Consider advanced purification methods where necessary

Your workplace may be more susceptible to poor indoor air quality. If your office is close to manufacturing plants or has high levels of the ozone layer, you may experience high levels of volatile organic compounds and ozone. Additionally, a workplace with high humidity levels is at a higher risk of mold and spore development without adequate indoor ventilation, requiring advanced air purification.

Endnote

Improving workplace indoor air quality should be an ongoing process to ensure a happier, healthier workplace. Consider using the above strategies to improve indoor air quality.



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