Common Air Contaminants To Avoid In Your Office
Indoor pollution in the office or any other workplace is a problem, which causes illness and sometimes more serious outcomes. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce, and this short guide will outline some areas for managers to understand how to mitigate the threats from poor air quality.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY – IMPORTANT FACTORS TO NOTE
The quality of the air indoors is not a static thing – it depends on location factors, for example proximity to major roads, but also the season, temperature, how many people are there, what processes are involved – for example an office might have photocopiers and printers, a canteen cooking fumes, while a laboratory will have other potential pollutants.
THE THREE MAIN WAYS OF DEALING WITH POLLUTANTS:
1. First, manage the sources of pollutants either by removing them from the building or isolating them from people through physical barriers, air pressure differences, or by controlling the timing of their utilisation.
2. Dilute pollutants and remove them from the building through good ventilation.
3. Use filters to scrub the air of pollution.
SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS
Generators of chemical pollution include emissions from products used in the building such as office equipment, furniture, wall and floor coverings and cleaning and consumer products. There can be the accidental spill of chemicals. Unhealthy gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are mainly produced by vehicles can infiltrate the building.
Biological hazards: Excessive concentrations of bacteria, viruses, fungi (including moulds), dust mite allergens, animal dander and pollen may result from inadequate maintenance, vermin control and housekeeping, water spills, inadequate humidity control, condensation, or may be brought into the building by occupants, infiltration, or ventilation air. Allergic responses to indoor biological pollutant exposures cause symptoms in allergic individuals and also play a key role in triggering asthma episodes for an estimated 5.4 million people in the UK.
Particles: solid or liquid substances which are light enough to be suspended in the air, the largest of which may be visible in sunlight streaming into an office. However, smaller particles that are invisible are likely to be more harmful to health. Particles of dust, dirt, or other substances may be taken into the building from outside and can also be produced by activities that occur in premises, like sanding wood or other substances, printing, copying, operating equipment and machinery.
IMPROVING AIR QUALITY
Employers are required to provide a safe working environment for all employees, so managers will need to control moisture and humidity to stop moulds and fungi developing and issuing spores, maintain good heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, including filtration to prevent outdoor pollution – for example from traffic – penetrating into the workplace. Even office plants, which normally add a touch of homeliness to any working space, can be the source of bacteria and moulds so should be cared for appropriately.
Overall, it does not take much effort or outlay to ensure that the air quality in a workplace is of a superior quality, and this will have benefits that can be seen in happier and healthier staff. Get in touch with the experts at Pratley & Partners; we supply and install ventilation solutions and window controls, and have established ourselves as a market leader in the industry, having great relationships with manufacturers enabling us to provide products at competitive prices. Email sales@ljpratley.co.uk, telephone 01277 633933 or fill in the contact page on our website.