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How Good Workplace Air Quality Can Improve the Performance of Your Business
January 11th, 2018
Last updated: December 19th, 2023
More and more employers are making the investment in air conditioning and other ventilation systems. Not only are they a cost-efficient way to control the air temperature all-year-round, but they are also an effective way to control the health of your employees, ensuring good workplace air quality.
Of course, it is a basic requirement that employees should be provided with a safe and comfortable workplace, but air conditioning also has the major benefit of saving money and enabling a business to individually control conditions in different parts of the building more efficiently.
One benefit many employers are not aware of, however, is the difference that good air quality can make to an employee’s health and subsequently their work output.
Possible Results of Poor Air Quality
Unventilated offices can lead to tiredness and fatigue and therefore stress, and ultimately a poor quality of work. Heatspaceandlight.com offers an insight into the sort of sleep-inducing effect that being indoors with poor quality air can have on people.
Air quality issues in the workplace can also lead to a greater risk of disease and other negative health conditions, which clearly can result in absenteeism.
We spend so much time at work that it is only natural that this environment will have an effect on our health, and so it needs to be controlled and made as accommodating as possible. Clean air will help with:
- Humidity: a build-up of moisture in hot conditions can cause dust mites and mould forming, and therefore airborne particles, which can result in breathing difficulties or even black mould
- Dry air: a stuffy atmosphere can result in dry skin forming or nosebleeds
- Odours: smelly foods or a build-up of other odours can cause discomfort and irritability in employees, and musty smells can be a sign of mould, disease, or lingering VOCs, which have a negative health impact.
Poor air quality is bad for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, and often you don’t realise what is causing this.
If you notice a minor breathing difficulty while at home you may immediately think it is caused by something at home.
You may actually spend a lot more time at work, and your condition could be linked to no ventilation, poor air quality and a moisture build-up.
A recent study showed that many UK offices harbour triggers for asthma.
There are even examples of employees taking legal action against their workplace for not providing them with a safe level of air. This means that you may even be risking potential legal action in extreme examples.
Avoiding poor air quality in the workplace doesn’t have to be difficult, either. With planned preventative maintenance from Robinsons Facilities Services, you can ensure that you regularly have your ventilation systems checked and maintained.
Workplace Air Quality Testing
If you are particularly concerned about your indoor workplace air quality, testing is a way to check for potentially harmful compounds in the air.
With Robinsons Facilities Services duct cleaning and other maintenance services, the need for testing is lowered, as you can be sure that there is a healthy airflow through the office or commercial kitchen.
The Benefits of Good Ventilation
Air conditioning and other ventilation systems enable the air to be circulated, so dry or poor quality air is taken out of a room and replaced with clean air, continuously. This provides a good balance all year round as well as helping to control the temperature to suit the ambient weather conditions.
In general, the wellbeing of your employees will improve with good ventilation, which should lead to better motivation, improved morale and ultimately a positive impact on work output.
One Harvard study even found that a better quality of air helped with decision-making processes and improved productivity among staff up to a value of over $6,000 per employee, per year. We know anecdotally that it is much nicer to spend time in an office with a controlled temperature and fresh air, but the studies also back up the fact that it makes people much more productive.
You can also provide peace of mind for your employees, too. According to Remark Group’s recent ‘Air Quality and Wellbeing at Work’ survey more than 50% of people are concerned about the air quality in their workplace.
You should also encourage your staff to take fresh air breaks at lunch time or maybe also arrange outdoor activities for after work.
These all help energise people by stepping out of their normal environment, and they combine to help provide a healthy, positive and highly motivated workforce and improved performance for a business that people will want to work for.
An air conditioning system that is serviced and maintained properly is one of the best investments a business can make, offering years of benefits for both your business and its employees.
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Commercial freezers typically maintain a temperature of -10 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. To us in the UK, that means -23 to -18 degrees Celsius. This temperature range is ideal for preserving frozen foods and preventing the growth of bacteria that can spoil or compromise the quality of the products. It’s important to monitor and regulate the temperature regularly to ensure the proper storage of frozen goods.
Read moreThe Importance of Kitchen Canopy Maintenance
A kitchen canopy, also known as an exhaust hood or range hood, is a ventilation system designed to remove airborne grease, smoke, heat, and odours generated during cooking processes in a commercial kitchen or residential setting. It is typically placed over cooking appliances such as stoves, ovens, grills, or fryers. In this guide, we’re exploring the importance of kitchen canopy maintenance and some of the guidelines around keeping a kitchen canopy in top condition.
Read moreAir Filtration – Can it Save You Money in the Long Run?
An air filter in a HVAC system is a device that removes particles from the air that passes through the system. The primary purpose of an air filter is to improve indoor air quality by trapping dust, dirt, pollen, mould spores, and other airborne particles. It also helps protect the HVAC system’s components, such as the blower fan and the heating or cooling coils, from getting coated with debris.
While we think of air filters primarily as being about air quality, the additional benefit of helping with the function of the HVAC system is well worth considering, and lifetime cost analyses may show that it can save you money to implement a filter.
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