Snuffling, sneezing, coughing, and breathing in pollutants do not help your employees. As an employer, you must provide your staff with a healthy, safe work environment. One of the most important aspects of a healthy workplace is air quality. Indoor air quality (IAQ) affects your business in the following ways:
- Staff Health
- Work Productivity
- Customers
- Quality Of Product
Are Indoor Air Pollutants Making Your Staff Sick?
Air quality affects your staff’s well-being in various ways. If employees think that just being at work makes them sick, you’ll likely see the effect of low morale, reduced productivity, and increased absenteeism. More importantly, failing to provide a safe workplace with clean air leaves you open to lawsuits and OSHA violations.
Airborne contaminants can cause many side effects. Here are just a few.
- Brain Fog
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Respiratory Issues
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Eye Irritation
Find Sources of Indoor Pollutants
Unhealthy air can’t be seen and doesn’t have to smell bad (although that’s a sure sign something’s wrong). Many invisible indoor pollutants contribute to poor air quality.
- Mold
- Dust Mites
- VOCs
- Perfumes
- Formaldehyde
- Particulate Matter
- Lead & Asbestos (In Older Buildings)
Certain personal care products, including highly scented shampoos, lotions, and perfumes, can affect sensitive individuals.
Eliminate Indoor Allergens & Airborne Toxins
Here are some steps you can take towards removing indoor allergens and improving your IAQ.
Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to eliminate allergens and particles.
Clean and vacuum the workspace frequently.
Control humidity levels to prevent mold growth.
Choose low or no-VOC furnishings, paints, cleaners, and other products.
Institute a no-perfume and cologne policy.
Clean and maintain your ductwork regularly.
Benefits of Healthy IAQ
Implementing and maintaining clean air policies is good for you and your staff. Here are a few of the benefits you might see.
- Reduced Absenteeism
- Increased Productivity
- Better Work Performance
- Higher Levels Of Employee Satisfaction
- Lower Healthcare Costs
- Reduced Employer Liability
How to Find Indoor Allergens
Allergens such as VOCs, dust mites, and mold spores can be found throughout the workspace, but they’re often invisible to the naked eye. An indoor air quality assessment conducted by an environmental engineering firm is the best way to identify any pollutants and airborne allergens and obtain remediation recommendations. Another option is to use air quality monitors to track changes in air quality over time.
Protect Worker Health With An Indoor Air Assessment
Are you a Monterey area employer wondering whether indoor air quality is up to par? M3 Environmental can help safeguard your employees and the bottom line with our IAQ testing services. For more information, call us today or set up an appointment with one of our environmental consultants.
