Feature
Cleaner Air Means Happier Workers: The Links Between Productivity And Clean Air
© AHR / Daniel Hopkinson
Philip Dowds, Managing Director of Okto Technologies examines the impacts of indoor air pollution on employees, and discusses why the time is now to embrace forward looking technologies that optimise employee wellbeing.
As offices and workplaces are set to re open in growing
numbers in the coming months, business leaders and employees will hope they can navigate the road to Covid 19 recovery with confidence. In order to minimise the spread of Covid 19 and instil trust in employees returning to the office, it is imperative that employers and building managers now focus on controlling air pollution in indoor workspaces.
A British Medical Journal editorial1 published last month
highlighted the importance of reducing airborne transmission indoors to help stay safe from the virus. The team of scientists examined how SARS CoV 2 particles can behave like a cloud of exhaled smoke, being most concentrated at ‘short range’ distance of under one metre. However, particles dispersed over longer distances of over two metres can linger in the air for hours, posing risks to those exposed even after the original source has left. This risk is of course at its highest in indoor environments which lack proper ventilation. All guidance from health
In order to ensure businesses operate safely and keep the economy moving, employers must guarantee that workspaces offer diluted air that filters out toxic pollutants and viruses, especially
as much of the workforce remains unsure of
returning to workplaces after the pandemic. Employees want reassurance, they need peace of mind, and they expect clean air in the office. With proper air quality management systems in place, employees will have assurance that they can securely and happily return to work with a far minimised risk of Covid 19 infection. For example, by using advanced sensor technology to monitor the indoor and outdoor air quality in real time, businesses can automate adjustments to airflow and ventilation rates as require, increasing virtual air changes per hour in order to keep staff as protected as possible.
However, air quality improvements in workspaces would have far reaching benefits well beyond just mitigating the impacts of coronavirus. Harvard University has carried out studies2
on the authorities, such as the World Health Organisation,
advises enhancing ventilation through HEPA type filtration which offers maximum efficiency in sterilising air, and it is clear the time is now to improve ventilation and air quality in workspaces.
22 fmuk
impact of improved indoor air quality in workspaces, finding that high performing, green certified buildings resulted in far greater productivity and health outcomes for employees. In 2015, research found that improving the ventilation of office
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