The Perils of Poor Indoor Air Quality at Work
When most people think of workplace hazards, they think of physical dangers such as dangerous equipment or serious safety violations. While these do present real dangers to employees, there’s another threat lurking in the air that can seriously impact their health and well-being on the job—poor indoor air quality (IAQ).
Since most of us spend at least eight hours per day at the office, which is way more than what we spend in our own homes, it becomes crucial to pay attention to the air quality of your office. To make your work environment as comfortable and healthy as possible, it’s important to keep indoor air quality high, both for our health and productivity and to benefit the people around us.
Here’s what you should know about how poor air quality in your workplace can be detrimental to your health and productivity.
What Factors Contribute to Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Most people are aware of the dangers poor outdoor air quality can pose to their health, but few realize that the air inside buildings can be just as polluted, if not more so. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term used to describe the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
There are many factors that can contribute to poor IAQ, including mold and dust being tracked in by people or circulating in the duct work, chemicals from cleaning products, and off-gassing from building materials, furniture, or office equipment. Inadequate ventilation can also lead to stagnant, stuffy air that is a breeding ground for bacteria and other airborne contaminants.
How Can It Affect Your Employees’ Comfort?
The air quality in your office or workspace can have a significant impact on your employees’ comfort and productivity. Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of health problems, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. It can also exacerbate existing conditions such as allergies and asthma. In extreme cases, it can even lead to more serious health problems like respiratory infections.
How Can You Improve the Air Quality?
Keep Your Office Space Clean
A clean office is a happy office, and a happy office is a productive office. But beyond just making your workspace look nice, keeping your office clean can actually have an impact on your health. Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of health problems, from headaches and fatigue to more serious respiratory illnesses. So, if you want to stay healthy and productive at work, it’s important to keep your office clean.
Consider Installing Filtered Commercial HVAC Diffuser
If you work in an office, you may be familiar with the common complaints about the air quality. People often say that the air is too dry or that it smells funny. These are both signs of poor indoor air quality, and they can have a significant impact on your health and productivity. If you’re concerned about the air quality at your workplace, one of the ways to alleviate your IAQ woes is by installing a Filtered commercial HVAC diffuser.
Comfort First Filtered Diffusers come with MERV 12 filters and trap any pollutants or particles as small as .03 microns in size. With the high ability to filter, this air diffuser is at a 40.6% efficiency level at 150 fpm. They can also be upgraded to a MERV 14 filter for medical facilities or placing looking to increase the air quality.
Comfort First Products is dedicated to providing companies throughout the United States with Filtered ceiling diffuser and deflectors to provide their office with the indoor air quality they can trust. Want to learn more? Get in touch with us today!