Many places of business and employment don’t consider the effect of the indoor air quality and aren’t as concerned as they should be. There are lots of components that can pollute indoor air. While some are natural, like dust and mold, others are not and include chemicals that are off-gassed by textiles, cleaners and other building materials. So, volatile organic compounds or VOC’s, like formaldehyde, phthalates and other harmful and illegal substances can be floating around in the air we breathe. This can be bad for us, your employees and customers that walk in your door.
Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality in the Workplace
If there’s a lack of fresh air being circulated inside your business, there’s a reduced exchange of pollutants that will lead to health problems. The result is poor indoor air quality that can lead to headaches, allergies and can even result in hormonal problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the air inside a building can be two to five times worse than the air outside. This is a big problem considering we spend about 90% of our time inside. The EPA has also determined that the cost of medical treatments and the number of missed days from work because of bad indoor air quality can be in the tens of billions of dollars each year. Added to this staggering amount is the cost of legal liability associated with lawsuits due to unsafe working conditions.
Causes & Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states that inadequate HVAC maintenance is a major cause of poor indoor air quality. They also claim the poor indoor air quality can causes headaches, fatigue, problems concentrating, skin rashes and eye, ear, nose, throat and lung irritation. Asthma and other chronic health problems are also tied to the quality if the air inside a building and extended exposure to some contaminants has even been linked to life -threatening medical conditions that include heart and lung disease and cancer! There are steps you can take to keep the air quality of your business better. Don’t allow smoking inside the building, maintain a cleaning schedule, use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to remove more particles from the air and use damp mops and cloths to dust to trap more particles. Use large entry mats at any entrances to your business to reduce the amount of these particles tracked inside on people’s shoes.
Professional HVAC Services in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson, Chicopee & Agawam Massachusetts
If you notice coughing, sneezing and runny noses in the workplace chances are it’s because the quality of the air inside. With all the evidence linking the health of your employees and their productivity, doesn’t it make sense to make sure you are maintaining the best indoor air quality possible. Maintenance is the mantra for good air quality. Maintained HVAC systems will save money from future repair costs and will improve your employee’s health and productivity. It’s a win-win and worth it to have it inspected and maintained by professionals. Contact Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning to have your HVAC inspected. We are experts that can offer solutions to make the air your customers and employees breathe healthier. For more information, give us a call today.
