When it comes to building a healthy workplace, never underestimate the role of air quality. The more effectively you keep chemicals, pollen, and other harmful items out of the air, the easier it is for your employees to breathe freely during the day. Clean air also reduces the threat to workers who have allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Thus as an owner or manager, you must invest in the measures necessary to keep the air clean year-round. The following tips will give you a strong head start, setting the stage for clean air throughout your workplace.
1. Check Your HVAC System
Modern heating and ventilation systems are designed to keep air clean and healthy. By circulating the air throughout the office and running it through precise filters, these systems catch harmful particles while preventing moisture from building up in it. But if your HVAC system loses the ability to ventilate the air properly, it can’t filter it or prevent moisture accumulation. You thus need to inspect the system on a regular basis and make sure it is circulating air properly; if it isn’t, fix or replace it as soon as possible. You should also check the filters in the system. Depending on the specific type of filter you use, you must either replace or clean them on a regular basis. Otherwise, they can’t keep dust and particles out of the air.
2. Mind Fabrics & Furnishings
Carpeting, couches, plush chairs, and other fabric items throughout your office harbor dust and pollen. As these particles build up in your fabrics, they make their way into the surrounding air, and may be distributed across your office by the HVAC system. To keep this problem to a minimum, clean your carpet and furnishings on a regular basis. Make sure to dry them thoroughly after cleaning them, as wet fabrics release moisture into the air while increasing the risk of mold growth.
3. Consider Heat & Humidity
During our country’s famously cold winters, you and your employees will undoubtedly want to crank up the heat. In doing so, be careful not to set the thermostat higher than it needs to be. Excessive heat dries out the air, and dry air can exacerbate respiratory health issues. Try to find the lowest level of heating that still allows your coworkers to be comfortable, and keep the thermostat at that level. If despite these efforts your air is still too dry, consider setting up a humidifier to keep it between 30 and 50 percent humidity.
4. Stick to Natural Smells
Fresheners and candles can make the office smell better, but they also release harmful chemicals and smoke into the air, which can be bad for respiratory health. Instead, consider setting up potted plants throughout the office, which improve the smell while creating few air quality problems.
From improving air quality to reducing allergy threats to achieving countless other goals, F.A.S.T. is committed to improving the health and sanitation of your workplace. For more information on all the ways you can keep yourself and your employees healthy, visit our website today.