Improving your Business' Indoor Air Quality

3/5/2019 (Permalink)

Could air quality be affecting production?

Most people spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. Much of that time, for adults, is spent in an office, or warehouse, environment. Indoor air quality can contribute to the health and comfort of your employees, customers, and all who visit your place of business.

Why Does Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Matter?

Many studies suggest that the level of pollutants indoors often surpasses the pollutants outdoors. Poor IAQ can potentially impact the health and wellbeing of your employees.

According to OSHA, the following symptoms have been linked to poor IAQ:

• Nose, lung, throat, and eye irritation
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Concentration difficulty

OSHA also claims that specific air contaminants have been linked with varying ailments. Irritants and damp indoor environments may worsen or lead to various conditions.

After examining the potential symptoms of poor indoor air quality, it’s no surprise that good IAQ has been linked to higher productivity and fewer lost work days according to an EPA Report to Congress from 1989. Happy, healthy workers tend to take fewer days off and accomplish more in the workplace.

What Affects Indoor Air Quality?

Fixing indoor air quality is not as simple of a fix as changing a pipe or washing a window. Several independent factors, both indoors and out, can contribute to poor IAQ.

Potential factors include, but are not limited to:

• Outdoor pollutants such as smoke, smog, etc.
• Poor ventilation and/or insulation
• Inadequate moisture and humidity control
• Untreated smoke damage
• Spilt chemicals and leaking gases
• Dust, dirt, and animal dander
• Fungi, pollen, and other biological matter
• Tobacco

What Can SERVPRO do?

As mentioned before, many factors can impact IAQ. Fortunately, we offer comprehensive services that tackle many of these factors. At SERVPRO of Gurnee, we offer inspections with recommendations for the best course of action to leave your office with cleaner air.