Strategies for Controlling Workplace Air Quality
Indoor air quality has always been an important workplace health and safety concern, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more of a focus than ever before. Air quality issues can occur when there are improper heating and ventilation systems in place, large amounts of airborne contaminants on-site or many building occupants present for long periods of time. It’s vital to ensure that indoor ventilation is adequately maintained because poor air quality can increase health issues for employees, subsequently leading to elevated absenteeism rates and reduced productivity levels.
Consider the following strategies to better control workplace air quality:
- Manage contamination sources. Stay vigilant in identifying, avoiding, isolating and removing any sources of air contamination.
- Leverage local exhaust ventilation. Ensure that pollutants are removed before they can disperse into the air by diverting contaminated indoor air directly outside using local exhaust ventilation.
- Ensure proper ventilation. Ventilation is the most effective and efficient way to introduce fresh, outdoor air into a building to displace or dilute contaminants found within indoor air.
- Limit exposures. Minimize employee exposures to intentionally released air contaminants. For example, certain tasks such as stripping and waxing floors should be done on weekends (if possible) to reduce the level of odour or contaminants in the air when the building is commonly occupied.
- Offer education. Provide training and resources to help employees understand the sources and effects of air contaminants, as well as the proper operations of the ventilation system. Employees will be able to use this knowledge to reduce their personal exposures and improve overall indoor air quality.
Contact us for more information on how to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.
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