Whether someone is rich, poor or middle class, there’s one thing everyone on the face of earth shares, air. We all breathe the same air. Some countries and cities have better air quality than others. Still, all citizens within a city share the same air regardless of their income.
Poor air quality is an issue that affects everyone equally. Generally, it’s a problem that tends to go unnoticed, even if it’s affecting our health, it is impossible to stop breathing when the air quality is low. And so, it is a problem that we’ve sort of learned to live with, even if it kills many.
However, have you ever wondered the impact that poor air quality has on your health?
– Air pollutants are carcinogenic to humans.
– It lowers energy levels in the body
– Increases possibilities of developing illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke.
– Increases viral and bacterial infections like the flu, bronchitis and lung infections.
Staying indoors is not safe either
It is common to hear how in countries where air quality is poor, it is encouraged that people stay indoors to reduce the negative impact that air pollutants can have on their health.
Nevertheless, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, air quality inside homes and businesses can often be two to five times worse than it is outside. An issue that can cause short-term eye irritation, nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness and fatigue.
Better air, better health, happier employees
Improving air quality worldwide is a big-scale issue; government agencies and NGOs worldwide are working towards ensuring better air quality for future generations. As mere citizens of the world, we can pitch in by planting trees and reducing our carbon monoxide footprint on the planet.
The biggest impact you can have on your surrounding is changing the air quality that you breathe at home and at work. As such, it is essential to perform a home or office indoor air quality test (find out more at https://a-1certifiedenvironmentalservices.com/), since this is where you spend 90% of your time.
Few HR managers and CEOs take importance in the quality of the air their employees are breathing and the impact that it has on their performance. Improving the air quality in the office space can improve the energy levels of employees and reduce sick days.
How to improve air quality in the workplace?
If you want to optimize your employees’ performance, it is not enough to sign them up for master classes and workshops. It’s important to focus on their health as well. Following proper first aid and safety measures are good options for your workplace. Among the many employee health-care aspects, you should also ensure indoor air quality.
Improving air quality in the workplace is an easy task that can bring great benefits. First and foremost, you should look into the benefits of Commercial Indoor Air Quality Testing. This test could reveal how toxic the air is in your office and depending on the results, you can make the necessary changes.
– Invest in plants. Green is the new black, and plants are back. They can not only enhance your interior decoration style; they also have a pivotal part in keeping your air clean. There are several types of plants that are low-maintenance and ideal for office space, such us: Spider Plant, Dracaena, Peace Lily and Boston Fern, among others.
– Get commercial fans and ventilation systems. In order for air to be comfortable to breathe it also needs to be fresh and the right temperature. Letting in the “fresh” air from outdoors can be a hazardous activity, which is why is fundamental that you invest in an efficient ventilation system to keep the air in optimal conditions. A good ventilation system can also reduce your energy costs.
– Switch your cleaning products. HR managers and CEOs tend to not put much attention on the cleaning products that are being used in their office space, but these have a huge impact on air quality. Chemical cleaning products create toxic fumes and spread carcinogenic agents in the air. Switch to green, eco-friendly cleaning products that use natural ingredients.
Infographic created by DuroVac – osha compliant vacuum