As technology advances towards more environmentally friendly office pieces of equipment, the issue of indoor air pollution is now receiving more attention.
While some offices are slowly upgrading to newer models, many workplaces still use older machines. Many of these machines are not tested for their emissions - but these emissions can have a serious effect on the air quality of the workplace. The dangers of microdust are also rising in offices and workplaces.
Indoor air pollution, which mainly occurs from the accumulation of unhealthy air particles in an indoor environment. It is a serious issue that receives much less attention than it ought to.
A common misconception is that the largest particles that we can see are the most dangerous. The smallest particles are in fact the most dangerous, blocking airways and getting deep into lungs. These are referred to by their size, often less than 2.5 microns in diameter, as PM2.5. With time and enough accumulation, they can fill up and scar lungs, and even disrupt the heart’s ability to beat properly. Many studies link exposure to these PM2.5 particles with worsened symptoms of asthma, heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and an increased risk of respiratory illness.
The ability of employees to do their job can be heavily impacted by the quality of the air within the space they must complete tasks.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), poor indoor air quality is tied to headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation as well as certain diseases. Commonly used machines such as shredders and fax machines are often big offenders in air quality issues inside offices.
To Do
- Find out how old machines in your building are
- Check ventilation and placement of furniture especially in tight spaces
- Invest in machines which produce fewer particles
- Invest in a better air filtration system and monitoring
The good news is that more and more companies are recognizing the importance of indoor air and taking action towards clean indoor air, Which will help clean up our air and take care of the planet.
The more informed we are, the more we can prevent poor working conditions and ensure that everyone has clean air to breathe at work.