Employees are every company’s greatest asset. When one member of a team gets ill while at work, getting that employee back to being well and healthy is the organization’s top concern. An employee’s security against any health hazards should always be prioritized.
This is where the term occupational health and safety comes in.
What is occupational health and safety?
Occupational health and safety refers to the multiple disciplines made to ensure wellbeing and safety of employees while at work. It is the promotion and maintenance of physical, mental, and social health of employees in all occupations, under any industry, by preventing risks from sickness and injuries, establishing safety policies, and by providing outstanding work facilities.
Indoor air quality and occupational health and safety
We are breathing an average quantity of 15,000 liters of air each day and are spending 90% of our time in built environments. Also, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors, these facts make indoor air quality or commonly known as IAQ, an important factor to guarantee occupational health and safety.
Indoor air quality problems at work exist when there is a limited amount of clean air circulating throughout the workplace and when toxic substances are actively present. Sources of poor indoor air quality may come from office equipment, cleaning chemicals, poor ventilation, the volume of people occupying the space, and the building’s location.
When unmanaged, poor IAQ can lead to numerous health issues including:
- Headache
- Skin, eye, and throat irritation
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Intense asthma attacks
- Bronchitis
- Heart attack
- Kidney failure
- Lung cancer
- Allergic reactions
- Anxiety and depression
If the workplace that you are providing for your employees has negative health risks, their productivity and work performance will also suffer. Employees that are frequently exposed to bad IAQ take more illness-related leaves and/or are continuing to work at a reduced efficiency, which may affect your business’ branding and growth.
Making indoor air quality at work better with uHoo
Whether you need guidance in mitigating indoor air pollution at work, seeking support to comply with green and healthy building standards or experiencing employee health problems, uHoo can conduct indoor air quality assessments for your organization.
With our dedicated health and technology experts, we can help you address your IAQ concerns through all stages of your building’s operation and develop a solution that suits your needs.
Our experts work with clients and customers under different industries including offices, commercial, healthcare, education, hotel, and more.
Explore effective indoor air quality technologies and strategies with uHoo. Schedule for an assessment with our experts today!
References:
- CWA Union
- 1 Source Safety and Health, Inc.
- Very Well Health
- OSHA
