How Can A Proactive Plan Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Some hazards associated with modern workplaces are more apparent than others. Dangerous machinery, toxic fumes and even the health effects associated with sitting at a desk for long periods of time have all been discussed at great length. However, one of the most overlooked aspects which can have a profound impact on workers involves the concept of indoor air quality control. Why is it much better to embrace a proactive stance to improve indoor air quality? How can organisations ensure that they are in full compliance with existing regulations? What risks does a business incur if it fails to appreciate how to improve indoor air quality? Let us answer each of these important questions.

Improving Indoor Air Quality: Sooner as Opposed to Later

Recent statistics have served to highlight the very real impact that air quality can have upon the population. Readers may be surprised to learn that more than 36,000 individuals die prematurely on an annual basis throughout the United Kingdom due to airborne particulate matter and similar hazards (1). You may be wondering how to improve indoor air quality, adopting a proactive stance is a much better strategy when compared to waiting for a problem to occur before taking action.

IAQ (indoor air quality) surveys are intended to provide this health-conscious edge. The goal of an indoor air quality plan is to analyse the air associated with a specific environment as well as to identify any hazards that may be present. Owners will thereafter be provided with relevant recommendations based around the property in question. As a result, changes can be made before the health of workers is placed in jeopardy. While these are the most obvious advantages to be seen when discussing an indoor air quality plan, there are other windfalls to mention.

Better Indoor Air Quality Leads to a Higher Overall Return on Investment

Comprehending how to improve indoor air quality goes far beyond ensuring the health of staff and any other individuals (such as visiting customers) who may be present at any given time. In fact, employees who know that management is attentive to their needs are likely to be much more productive. Fewer complaints will be filed and the number of overall sick days is normally expected to reduce overtime.

Legal responsibility is another key concern. Let us imagine that litigation has recently been filed against a company which claims that substandard air quality caused an employee to develop a chronic illness. The presence of an indoor air quality survey can be used as legal evidence that the company has indeed taken proactive steps in the past to improve air quality. This may very well avoid a potentially costly situation (as well as a plethora of bad press).

Furthermore, regulations concerning air quality are being updated on a regular basis. It can be challenging for owners to remain aware of any recent modifications put forth by the HSE and similar governmental bodies. This is when the experts at Air Quality Plan can be of assistance. We are fully cognisant of what steps need to be taken in order to meet and exceed current compliance standards. Managers and similar stakeholders can, therefore, return their focus to other important concerns such as product development and marketing. In the meantime, our expert team can work to ensure that measures are being taken to improve indoor air quality.

Finally, improving indoor air quality simply makes good business sense. Here are some of the reasons behind this rather obvious observation:

• Higher levels of in-house productivity.
• Lower employee turnover rates.
• Healthy working conditions are an excellent form of publicity when hiring trained personnel.

Adopting a proactive nature is, therefore, the key to long-term success.

The Hazards of Failing to Improve Indoor Air Quality

What if a firm fails to appreciate how to improve indoor air quality? First and foremost, the health of all employees (and managers) will naturally be placed at risk. Lower levels of productivity can lead to reduced profit margins and lower levels of end-user satisfaction. Sick days may place the company in financial hardship and in severe cases, legal actions could be brought against the stakeholders in question. This is why it only stands to reason that obtaining an air quality assessment is one of the most important steps to take in order to ensure that none of these scenarios come to pass.

Due to the fact that up to 90 percent of our time is spent indoors, knowing the risks directly associated with the presence of airborne pollutants is critical. This is why the professional team at Air Quality Plan is happy to provide you with an on-site assessment so that you can better appreciate any mitigating steps that may need to be taken. Furthermore, this is an excellent strategy to save time and money from a long-term perspective. We provide you with all of the information you need to be able to improve the indoor air quality of your business with ease.

If you have additional enquiries or should you like to schedule an in-depth consultation, please feel free to contact one of our members directly. We will be more than happy to assist further. Click here for our enquiries page, where you can find all of our contact information. We are always happy to help!