In the recent months, indoor air quality in the workplace has been subject to much discussion. It’s been proven that poor indoor air quality can affect people’s health, productivity and comfort when working in the building. Serious health problems that are in direct relation to poor air quality often take a long time to contract and are highly unlikely in most circumstances, but despite this, the perception of endangered health is increasingly common amongst workers.
What do we mean by good indoor air quality?
It is distinctly more noticeable when a building has poor air quality, than it is when a building has good indoor air quality. The main factors that compromise air quality are chemical contaminants, dampness, dust and odour. Ventilation systems are required to be put in place within industrial sectors, in order to improve air quality and the flow of fresh, clean air. As well as correct ventilation, it’s important to maintain good housekeeping practices in order to reduce dust and dampness from compromising the air quality.
Common industry complaints on IAQ:
One of the most common complaints about air quality is the temperature, either the air is too hot or too cold – this can be a caused by the nature of the work environment. For example, in a metal work industry, there will be a level of heating and cooling involved, which will compromise the temperature. Ventilation systems possess the ability to be able to regulate the temperature and ensure that the work environments are safe.
Why is ventilation important?
Recent studies have indicated that illness is spread quickly and more efficiently in poorly ventilated work environments, which have poor air quality. Industrial work environments often don’t have enough fresh air being filtered into them to reduce and clear contaminated air. The HVAC system can both provide a comfortable environment and control contaminates, which creates a safer, happier and more productive work environment.