Why clean and effective ventilation in the workplace is essential

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly made us all think more about the air we breathe, both outdoors and within any indoor spaces where we find ourselves in close proximity to others.

As the country tries to return to some semblance of normality over the coming months, elimination of risk will be high on the list of priorities for those responsible for the health and safety of employees and visitors within commercial buildings. Air quality will be a significant consideration when it comes ensuring to the on-going health and well-being of everyone sharing a workplace.

Coronavirus pandemic to one side, there are still many good reasons to ensure that ventilation systems and their associated ductwork are maintained in a safe and clean condition. Here are just a few: -

Indoor air can be as much as 50% more polluted than the air outdoors and a lack of adequate ventilation is often the cause. Newer buildings are designed to be more energy efficient than their older counterparts, but this means that there are fewer opportunities for pollutants to escape. Instead they recirculate and build up over time, exacerbating existing health conditions such as asthma, making staff more susceptible to colds and flu and causing new problems such as nasal irritation, itchy eyes, sore throats and headaches.

Even condensation can become problematic over time, leading to dampness and mould, which is in itself a well-known allergen. Carpets and soft furnishings can become permeated and start to smell over time; unpleasant odours can be very difficult to remove or mask and are certainly never conducive to a happy, healthy working environment!

Poor air quality is known to lead to a reduction in productivity and workplace morale. There is no doubt that tiredness and fatigue caused by poor ventilation can seriously hamper concentration and overall performance, not to mention dampen the atmosphere!

Opening a window is not always the solution to the problem. It won’t improve the situation for everyone within the building and in some cases can introduce more contamination – from a busy main road for example. Small improvements to air quality can be made by replacing carpets with hard flooring, using environmentally-friendly cleaning products, removing printers and photocopiers from the main office and even introducing oxygen-boosting plants! Admirable as these air-enriching steps may be, their overall effect is small compared to simply ensuring that the ventilation system is working efficiently and is clean.

Find out more
At System Hygienics clean air is our business. We know how important a clean air supply is to the working environment and to the health, safety and well-being of those within it. We specialise in ductwork and ventilation cleaning to the highest BESA standards and our specialised team can offer a total solution for complete peace of mind. If you would like to find out more about we could help you maintain optimal air quality for your personnel visit our website at www.systemhygienics.co.uk