Can Air Quality Indoors Affect the Performance of Employees?

Pollution is a growing problem experienced at any place, even if you’re inside the office. Keeping the windows shut all day prevents proper air circulation inside. This raises the level of carbon dioxide, which causes employees’ headaches and drowsiness.

This type of problem isn’t unusual. It’s a collective experience shared by almost everyone who works in the office. Having HVAC doesn’t help unless it has the right filters.

How air quality indoors affects employees

People often notice the air quality in the outdoor environment that they often forget what’s inside their office premises. People often overlook the indoor air quality because it’s less conspicuous. When you observe outdoor air pollution, you can see and smell it. There are even times when you can taste it. But when it comes to indoor air quality, it’s barely noticeable.

But leaving it unattended can result in significant health impacts. Experts say that it can lead to lung cancer and respiratory tract infections.

People often think that staying inside is the best way to escape pollution. But it’s not always the case. Experts say that the quality of air inside is at least two to five times greater than the air pollution outdoors. It can sometimes get to 10 times worse compared to what’s outside.

The primary composition of indoor air pollution

The air that you breathe inside comprises of all the pollution that’s outside. Even more, it also has the pollution that people naturally produce. It can vary from fumes coming from cleaning products and cooking. Building materials can also produce undetectable fumes that are harmful to a person’s health.

Even the type of flooring also affects indoor air quality. That’s why experts often tell business owners to replace their vinyl flooring to more natural material. Using a couch without any flame retardant materials can also help reduce the toxins in the air.

Using air fresheners in the office can also trigger allergic reactions and asthma to some people. Candles can sometimes have the same effect, too.

Exposure to regular poor air quality can even result in death. Additionally, it can also cause headaches as well as reduced productivity. To combat these effects, companies nowadays invest in an Ozone air purifier in the UK to clean the air inside.

Improving indoor air quality

Despite the alarming rates of indoor air pollution inside almost every building, there are ways to address the problem.

One way to do it is by educating the building staff about indoor air quality management. Providing them with training opportunities that discuss precise pollutant source management is the best way to go.

Even creating designated smoking areas and remodeling furnishings and materials can help, too. Also, it’s advisable to establish procedures when it comes to addressing complaints related to indoor air.

Fighting the effects of poor indoor air quality is a difficult battle. But if you equip yourself with the right knowledge, you’ll undoubtedly manage it in the long run. What’s important is that you educate others about indoor air pollution. Doing so will help create awareness about its effects and how they can manage it.