Improve Air Quality For A Healthier Workplace
When it comes to health and safety at work, many employers are concerned with addressing visible hazards that can lead to immediate and severe consequences in the event of an accident. Indoor air quality is often overlooked because they believe their facility’s HVAC and air filtration system will take care of maintaining air quality. Many are surprised to find that the air quality in their offices, warehouses and industrial facilities is not as optimal as they think. To prevent respiratory issues from affecting employee health, it is important to remain vigilant with regular air quality testing and planning to mitigate, or eliminate airborne hazards.
Identify Sources of Air Quality Hazards
Finding airborne hazards during indoor air quality testing is only the first step towards ensuring employees are safe from respiratory issues. When an air quality test detects the presence of VOCs, airborne particulate matter, allergens, or high levels of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, A full inspection of the facility must be done right away to find the source of these airborne hazards. Sources of indoor air quality hazards can include, but are not limited to:
- Mold
- Asbestos Building Materials
- Unclean Common Areas
- Unclean Ventilation Systems
- Chemical Materials
- Manufacturing By-Products
Mitigate Or Eliminate Airborne Hazards
Once the sources of the detected airborne hazards have been found, a plan of action needs to be formed to address these issues. It is important to determine whether the source is something that can be eliminated from the facility. Things such as mold and asbestos should be fully removed to improve air quality. Unclean work and common spaces need to be cleaned frequently. HVAC and air filtration systems need to be well maintained and cleaned regularly. If the source of an airborne hazard comes from chemicals or manufacturing byproducts, then a plan must be made mitigate the health risks involved with these hazards. This means directing contaminated air away from workers and through a filtration system, and providing proper PPE to employees.
Emergency Response For Air Quality Hazards
Despite best efforts to maintain air quality in certain workplaces, accidents that can have an immediate and dangerous impact on indoor air quality can still happen. Indoor air quality testing is critical to understanding the effect the accident has caused to air quality, and which areas of a facility are affected. By knowing these details, more deliberate steps can be taken to remove dangerous airborne hazards and get the facility back to full operation. Auspice Safety is here to help with indoor air quality testing, safety inspections related to indoor air quality, safety planning, and emergency response planning. Don’t let your employees fall victim to airborne hazards while they work. Contact us today for all of your air quality needs!
