With the decline in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States comes the possibility that many employees will finally be able to get out of their remote work setup. As more companies are starting to embrace face-to-face, in-office work, it’s likely that offices will once again begin to conduct their major operations in the workplace together with some employees.
Aside from the specifics of transitioning to in-office work, companies are now reevaluating their respective workspaces, in an effort to make sure that they adhere to local regulations. But there’s one aspect of face-to-face office work that remains to be one of those things that are simply overlooked and that is the indoor air quality in office spaces.
A report released by Honeywell in February 2022 reveals that the majority of surveyed workers are concerned about the indoor air quality (IAQ) in their buildings. The study, Workplace Air Quality: A Global Concern Emerges, surveyed 3,000 workers in buildings with more than 500 workers in various regions like the United Kingdom, India, and the Middle East.
The study found out that 82 percent of the surveyed office workers from the US expressed their sentiments and worries about the indoor air quality (IAQ) today and how, with new COVID-19 variants emerging here and there, the IAQ will further be contaminated.
Aside from concerns related to COVID-19, there are reasons why maintaining good indoor air quality is absolutely necessary. A Harvard study from September last year revealed that poor IAQ can have major effects on the cognitive function and productivity of an employee. In office spaces where there’s poor ventilation and the air is contaminated by particulate matter, workers are at higher risk of making mistakes while on the job.
As companies once again slowly resume in-office work settings, there’s a need to include indoor air quality in the list of key elements that will make the workplace a conducive environment for employees to be productive.
Here are some steps that can be taken to improve indoor air quality:
- Investing in helpful devices that can clean the air in the workplace (e.g., air purifiers and dehumidifiers).
- Allowing the air to circulate. Opening the windows allows stagnant air from inside to be replaced by new air.
- Regular cleaning and maintenance. This includes cleaning HVAC systems and changing their filters to ensure that there is no dust and debris in the filter that can affect airflow and contaminate the air.
Another key step in improving indoor air quality in the workplace is to get to the root cause of contaminated air. There are many things that can contribute to poor air quality in the workplace. From dust and dirt to cigarette smoke, and even mold growth. Mold spores could be one thing that can cause the contamination of indoor air. If this is the case, business operators can get in touch with
mold removal professionals such as AllStarMoldRemoval.com.
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