Low air quality indoors can have a very negative impact on both your health and your productivity. Whether you work in a factory or warehouse setting or a smaller office building, poor air quality can be a big issue.
It can lead to both small illnesses and chronic health conditions, and this is why it is important to learn about your rights regarding the air you breathe while you are at work.
Thousands of potential air pollutants exist indoors. Since indoor environments contain these pollutants rather than allowing them to disperse, people who work in these situations experience a higher risk of exposure. Poor indoor air quality can result from bacteria, fungi, pollen and dust. Pollutants can be even more concentrated in factory environments. Depending on the products being manufactured, workers can come in contact with chemicals, abrasive blasting residues,
Health consequences of poor air quality
Did you know that indoor air can be two to five times as polluted as outdoor air. This can have dire consequences on the health of the people who work in environments with poor air quality. In office settings, employees are at risk of developing multiple problems.
Not only does poor air quality compromise employee productivity, but it also leads to more sick days, which means employers are spending more money on less production.
In factory environments, the problem is even worse. Poor air circulation and persistent moisture can contribute to the formation of volatile organic compounds. They can cause impacts such as the loss of coordination, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, headaches, fatigue, dizziness and nausea.
The long-term health impact can include damage to major internal functions such as the central nervous system and the circulatory system. People can develop problems such as asthma and hay fever, and they may have never had these issues prior to exposure.
How can you improve air quality?
Although poor indoor air quality is a problem, it is an issue that is not difficult to solve. The first and most important step is to make sure workplaces follow the suitable rules and regulations. These principles are put in place to make sure employees are safe and healthy.
They should be sticking to regulated factors like ventilation, contaminant levels and other contributing aspects. For example, large industrial factories will probably need to implement ventilation duct structures which wouldn’t be necessary for smaller commercial buildings, who will need smaller scale ventilation systems.
You should make sure that your employers are sticking to these regulations, not only for you health but also for your productivity and well being!