Indoor Air Contaminants That Affect Your Productivity
Do you ever feel like you can’t focus in your office? Do you feel distracted and find it hard to stay on task? If so, your indoor air quality might be to blame. Often people are not aware that the air inside their workplace can be more polluted than the air outside.
The average person spends 80-90% of their time indoors. As a result, the effects that air pollution has on office productivity have become an emerging focus in research. Evidently, poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of health problems, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Therefore it can also lead to reduced productivity at work. Let’s look at some of the most common indoor air contaminants and how you can reduce their impact on productivity.
Some of the most common indoor air contaminants, that affect your productivity, are:
Dust mites
These are tiny creatures that have a big impact on employee productivity. As a rule, they thrive in humid environments and feed on dead skin cells. Symptoms of a dust mite allergy include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and watery eyes. Naturally these symptoms can make it difficult for people to concentrate and be productive at work. Additionally, dust mites can exacerbate other conditions like asthma and eczema.
To mitigate the effects of dust mites on employee productivity, businesses should take steps to control humidity levels and keep surfaces clean and free of dust accumulation
Mould
Mould is a type of fungus that forms in damp areas, usually caused by excessive moisture or humidity. If left untreated, mould can cause many problems for businesses, including decreased productivity and poor employee experience.
Mould can create respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. It’s also known to irritate the skin and trigger allergic reactions such as sneezing, itchiness, and redness around the face.
Prevention of mould includes being aware of its signs and changes to air quality. You should always monitor moisture levels and look for physical signs of mould such as discolouration on walls or ceilings. Regular cleaning by a team trained in mould-related issues will also help mitigate potential health risks. By taking precautions, businesses can protect themselves from hazardous fungus while providing a safe working atmosphere for their employees.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs,)
VOCs are a class of chemicals found in certain consumer and commercial products and materials. They can become airborne, potentially causing a number of health problems from headaches to nausea.
The dangers of VOCs have been well-established through research. A study by Environmental Health Perspectives found that small concentrations of pollutants can affect cognitive performance by up to 13%.
VOCs are often found in cleaning products, paint fumes, and carpets. Therefore they can be harmful to those who work in environments with high levels of these substances.Employers should take steps to reduce their employees’ exposure to VOCs where possible. With adequate knowledge and precautionary measures we can limit the negative impact that these compounds can have on our environment and our health.
Conclusion
The air we breathe has a significant impact on our productivity. Every day indoor air contaminants affect our ability to perform to our best. Employers looking to improve the productivity and well-being of staff should take steps to reduce employees’ exposure to toxins. This can be achieved by maintaining optimal indoor air quality in the workplace. The best way to do that is by optimising your building and monitoring indoor air quality levels. This way the correct adjustments can be made to the HVAC system.
If you’re interested in learning more, Incube Space offers solutions that can be tailored to ensure optimal indoor air quality and a productive workforce. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create a healthy and productive office space.