According to statistics from the World Health Organisation, air pollution is responsible for up to 36,000 deaths annually in the UK alone and the Government has officially identified air pollution as the most significant environmental health risk of our time.
This grim reality highlights the urgency of addressing air quality, not just in our cities and homes, but also in our workplaces. Because we spend almost as much time at work as we do at home and if employees are spending 8 hours a day breathing in poor quality air, it’s going to impact not only their health but their performance too.
How Poor Air Quality Can Negatively Affect Your Business
Beyond the obvious broader environmental and health implications, poor air quality can have a direct, detrimental impact on businesses and their staff. Research indicates that air pollution contributes to approximately 6 million sick days each year in the UK and cuts the average Briton’s life expectancy by six months.
This isn’t just a public health concern either; it’s a business issue too. Over time, poor air quality means more sick days, a reduction in productivity and a downturn in overall staff wellbeing. Unhappy staff also means high turnover (or churn) and could leave your company’s reputation in the toilet if you’re not careful.
How Your Business Can Improve Its Air Quality
Improving air quality is far from a one-and-done thing and there are several ways to tackle the problem. If you can tackle it from multiple angles, however, you’re more likely to see a result with your air pollution solutions.
Odour Control Systems: For businesses involved in manufacturing or treatment processes that produce unpleasant odours (including manufacturing), installing an odour control system is essential to maintaining a healthy working environment. This doesn’t need to be an industrial option either. In fact, depending on your workplace, a simple room odouriser solution might be practical and cost-effective. Even incorporating plants and green spaces in and around the workplace can improve air quality naturally.
Regular Air Quality Assessments: Monitoring and regularly assessing air quality can help identify problematic problem areas that can then be fixed (or at least mitigated) through practical solutions. For example, if you notice a stuffy atmosphere in certain parts of the building, think about investing in an upgraded ventilation system to ensure a constant supply of fresh air. This can significantly reduce the concentration of pollutants indoors and create a more comfortable environment for everyone.
Flexible Working Options: Sometimes it’s simply impossible to avoid air pollution, particularly if you’re working outside in a major city. In this case, allowing staff to work flexibly, especially during high pollution days or in heavily polluted areas, could be a practical middle-ground solution to reduce their exposure to harmful air.
