Sneeze, sneeze… Is the indoor air in your workplace feel stuffy? Every day, you’re probably dealing with the negative impacts of poor air quality at work, which can also affect how you work. The catch is that solving this issue is simple. HEPA filters improve office productivity and prevent workers from having an all-day “achoo” session.
Air quality isn’t just something to sneeze at. It is in fact one of the largest environmental threats. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, and more or less half of this percentage is in the workplace.
Poor indoor air quality might cause medical problems that may lower employee productivity. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ), according to the US Department of Labor, has been linked to symptoms like headaches, weariness, difficulty concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Although factors like temperature, illumination, and individual health can also affect these symptoms, poor indoor air quality is still one of the main reasons for the loss of productivity in the office.
Statistics Showing HEPA Filters Increase Productivity
Here are some of the facts from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory you should know:
- When indoor pollution sources were eliminated, employees noticed a 4 to 16% boost in the speed and accuracy of a selection of office job tasks.
- Improvements in office work tasks are connected with better perceived indoor air quality, with task performance increasing by about 1% for every 10% drop in the occupants’ dissatisfaction rate.
- According to studies, people who work in offices with above-average ventilation rates (up to 40 cfm per person) experience 10% to 80% fewer ill-building syndromes than those who don’t.
How HEPA Filters Improve Office Productivity
1. Might Ease Asthma Symptoms
Given that asthma is a fairly prevalent respiratory condition, even in adults, it is not uncommon to have employees who have this issue. Asthma sufferers have irritated bronchial passages. As a result, contaminants may enter their airways and irritate them. Because of this, people who have asthma may also have difficulty in breathing.
Regularly vacuuming the office flooring can help remove dust and pollen particles. But they too might become airborne and stuck. The chance of asthma episodes rises when workers who have been diagnosed with asthma breathe these particles.
The risk with this is that when workers are sick, production drops. No company wants a high absence rate among its workforce. You’re not just observing a day or two of absence because severe asthma attacks can be devastating and even fatal. Some might even last a whole week.
2. HEPA Filters Remove Air Pollutants
Indeed, no employee will ever want to spend eight hours in an office that feels as dirty as it does. Of course, it’s common for people to fall sick occasionally. However, if this is happening more frequently at work, it may be a sign that the environment there is dirty.
To eliminate some of the typical air pollutants, you might need a HEPA filter. Volatile organic compounds from printers, viruses, pollen, bacteria, smoking odors, allergies, dust mites, mold, and mildew are some of these pollutants. The health and wellness of your staff will improve as your office becomes cleaner.
3. Removes Unpleasant Odors from the Air
Think about sitting at your desk attempting to concentrate on the subject at hand, but failing because the environment smells so unpleasant to be in. Employee productivity suffers as soon as they begin to lose focus.
Employees who spend too much time in smelly offices are more likely to experience headaches. Employee concentration loss is the absolute last thing you need. As a result, not only is their productivity reduced, but also the quality of the work they produce.
4. It Can Help Reduce the Spread of Airborne Diseases
In an office full of otherwise healthy workers, just think of all the viruses and bacteria that could be transferred by one employee’s sneeze. They may cover their mouths, but the chances of transferring an airborne virus from one employee to another are very high once there is one sick.
When the air is clean with the help of HEPA filters, you can stop infections from spreading in the office. Nobody needs to put up with sneezing coworkers all the time. Additionally, the effects on productivity are significantly worse for people who are ill. They may become distracted owing to the discomfort of an itchy, runny nose, much like unpleasant odors.
Conclusion
Many businesses are now considering installing HEPA filters in their offices because of all the advantages it offers. Given the importance of having clean workstations, it is a form of workplace enhancement that most employees prioritize these days. Maintaining good employee health and wellness goes beyond productivity. Pick a high-quality one to give your business a decent return on its investment in terms of employee productivity. Get in touch with us today.
