How To Improve The Air Quality In Your Workplace

Indoor air pollution is a serious problem in the workplace. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks it as one of the top five environmental dangers. Dust, bacteria, mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) cigarette smoke, fumes and other air-borne pollutants can lead to a wide range of problems, such as asthma, respiratory infections and even cancer. If you own or manage a business, you should take a proactive approach towards maintaining clean air in the workplace.

Ventilation

Arguably, the single most important step towards maintaining clean air in the workplace is to keep it ventilated. When employees are forced to work in an enclosed environment, fumes and pollutants can build up to dangerous levels. Opening the windows and doors allows air pollutants to escape while bringing fresh air back inside.

Business owners can also use oscillating fans to encourage the movement of air rather than allowing it to grow stagnant in a particular area. Strategically placing just a couple oscillating fans around air vents can yield significant improvements in the overall air quality of your workplace.

Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC)

Has your workplace HVAC been serviced by a professional technician in the past few years? If not, you should probably call a HVAC company to schedule a service appointment. A licensed technician will check to make sure everything is running properly, which not only leads to a more energy-efficient workplace, but also better air quality.

Plants

Adding some plants to your workplace can also encourage cleaner air. Plants work around the clock to filter impurities from the air. When dust, bacteria, mold and other pollutants settle on the leaves, they are absorbed by the plant and replaced with fresh oxygen. See below for a list of some of the leading air-filtering plants.

Top Air-Filtering Plants: Compiled From NASA's Clean Air Study

• Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
• Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)
• Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
• Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis')
• Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
• English ivy (Hedera helix)
• Lilyturf (Liriope spicata)
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Devil's ivy, Money plant (Epipremnum aureum)
• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa')
• Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum)
• Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
• Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron cordatum)
• Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana')
• Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
• King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)

What steps to you take to maintain clean air in your workplace? Let us know in the comments section below!