Our latest blog takes a look at how improving poor indoor air quality with a VIRUSKILLER™ air purification unit will help you with improving overall workplace productivity. 

With the introduction of open plan offices in the late 1950s, many work environments were physically transformed to facilitate collaboration and increase the flow of information. Sadly, information isn’t the only thing that flows through offices these days.

The legacy of poor indoor air quality (IAQ)

Carpeting and other furnishings can emit toxic pollutants (also called volatile organic compounds – VOC’s). Harmful concentrations of indoor air pollution can make its way inside through outdated HVAC systems, acting as a carrier for airborne viruses and bacteria.

Pollutants such as CO, NO2, and particulate matter (PM) can have long-term negative effects on employee productivity and well-being.

Poor Indoor Air Quality is bad for business

The fact is that the air we breathe has never been good for business.

Poorly ventilated office air that is endlessly recycled and clogged with particulates, bacteria, and toxic fumes. This affects our mood, productivity, and workplace performance, and ultimately the bottom line.

Using indoor plants can certainly help in improving the overall air quality in your office, but eliminating viruses and bacteria requires specialised technology. The benefit of acquiring VIRUSKILLER™ clean air technology to a business is ultimately the protection of the health and well-being of employees.

3 biggest risks from poor indoor air quality:

Let’s take a more detailed look at the 3 biggest risks to your employees from poor indoor air quality, and how poor indoor air quality affects productivity in your business.

1. Airborne transmission of viruses causes illness 

Disease-causing viruses and bacteria can be spread by direct contact with aerosols from infected employees who talk, cough, and sneeze. Read our post on sister blog Insights on “How far can a sneeze travel” for more on this topic. 

Employees who miss work due to respiratory illness such as flu generally miss between one to four workdays. This accounts for 5–20% of sickness absences in the workplace. Studies show that occupants in open-plan offices with more than six people have 62% more days of absence.

People who work in shared offices and open-plan work spaces have an 18% and 12% higher risk, respectively, of medically certified sickness absence. And as we know, absenteeism can really hit a business hard on the bottom line.

2. Poor indoor air causes reduced performance and productivity

Poor indoor air quality has been linked to a reduction in a person’s ability to perform specific mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation, and memory.

Carbon monoxide concentrations in the workplace can cause fatigue, reduced brain function, and impaired vision and coordination.  Poor indoor air quality has been shown to reduce office performance by between 6–9%. 

3. Sick building syndrome causes absenteeism

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) describes situations where building occupants experience acute health effects that appear to be linked to time spent indoors. Symptoms can include eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, mental fatigue, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and skin irritations.

Indoor sources of VOCs from building materials, carpets, flooring, paints, and wooden-based materials can exacerbate symptoms of SBS.

How VIRUSKILLER™ can improve overall workplace productivity: 

The airflow control ensures the protection of the breathing zone in a room thus minimising cross-infection between co-workers and staff. The high-grade filters act as a first line of defence and thereafter the Reactor Chamber efficiently decontaminates the air in real-time.

A host of filtration, neutralisation, and decontamination technologies are required in providing air that is free from pollutants.

Each VIRUSKILLER™ model is equipped with a triple filtration system. A pre-filter, carbon filter, and high-grade HEPA filter to tackle particulate matter and VOCs. The patented Reactor Chamber breaks down bioaerosols and organic matter that might otherwise escape filtration.

What about poor air quality in the bathroom?

Air quality in washrooms is often overlooked, yet it plays an important role in our overall well-being. Poor bathroom air quality can lead to discomfort, health issues, and unpleasant experiences.

High humidity and inadequate ventilation create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, mould, and odours. This can worsen allergies and respiratory conditions.

Unpleasant odours can negatively impact the user’s perception of cleanliness and hygiene. To ensure a pleasant and healthy environment, proper ventilation, air purification, and odour control measures should be a prioritised.

Neglecting bathroom air quality can have lasting consequences on both health and user satisfaction. In Read our post on a sister blog insight about prioritising bathroom air quality

Investing in clean air technology is both a short- and long-term investment for businesses. By creating a safe and welcoming office environment for employees, employers demonstrate that they care.

Find out more about improving poor air quality in your workplace by reaching out to a member of our team. We’ll be happy to do a free survey of your workplace, and recommend the unit best suited to your needs.