Air quality in offices changes and shifts throughout the year. The humidity, temperature, plant growth, and traffic in an office can change with the seasons, leading to changes in indoor air quality. In addition, things like new furniture, carpets, specialized machinery, or chemicals can also affect the air quality in an office. However, air circulation and ventilation are the leading causes of poor air quality in offices in winter. In addition, in winter, as the doors and windows are closed, the air circulation of the building is reduced, which can cause people in the office to get sick, such as some allergies or colds common in winter.
Colds and allergies can be accompanied by itchiness, watery eyes, congestion, sneezing, stuffy nose, and runny nose, which can seriously affect productivity at work. Experiments have proved that employees are divided into two groups. One group will put employees in a “green”, healthy office environment with good air quality, and the other group will be assigned to a typical ordinary office. The results showed that workers in the office with good air quality were 61% more productive than those in the "typical" office.
Indoor air quality is usually a team effort. Offices are made up of people with different skills and knowledge, and as a team, improving the air quality in offices requires the efforts of everyone. Make a few simple changes each that will immediately impact your health and that of your co-workers. What details can you tweak and change?
1. Create an odorless office: Some perfumes and body sprays can be disruptive to individuals. Try to minimize office odors.
2. Layout a welcome mat: A mat at the main entrance to the office can help capture contaminants and particles we might be carrying on the soles of our shoes.
3. Keep office humidity around 50%: High humidity can lead to mold growth, while low humidity can dry skin and airways. If you live in a city that rains a lot in the winter, install a dehumidifier and set it at ideal humidity.
4. Use low-volatile cleaning products: Some cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals or artificial odors can be harmful and should be avoided. In addition, it is recommended to choose cleaning products with low VOC or no fragrance.
5. Investing in an air scrubber is a good choice for improving indoor air quality, and it can capture pollution particles in the air.
6. A health and safety group on protecting indoor air quality can be established in offices or buildings.