Ventilation in the Workplace: Safety and Productivity

It is easy to recognize offices and workplaces where, unfortunately, the environment is not pleasant. But we are not referring to the relationships between different workers, but to the air that is literally breathed. This is a mistake, as the quality of the air significantly affects those working indoors. How? Poor air quality can worsen mood, performance, and also promote illnesses and irritability. The best solution is to invest in ventilation at work. A good mechanical air renewal system can help - and a lot - for both workers and the company.

One of the main premises considered in the professional environment is that quality air can improve worker performance. According to scientists at the Technical University of Denmark, "good air quality can improve productivity by 10%". Undoubtedly, a great reason to avoid the common excuse about the installation cost of a ventilation system at work.

However, the main reason why a mechanical ventilation system in workplaces is necessary is for the health of the workers. This is also positive for workplaces, as breathing quality air leads to fewer illnesses, which also means a reduction in absenteeism.

• Feelings of exhaustion, poorer cognitive skills.
• Increased likelihood of allergic reactions.
• General fatigue and headaches.
• Throat irritation and stinging in the eyes.

Air quality indoors in workplaces mainly depends on ventilation at work. Mechanical systems can combat the main air pollutants that may arise in professional centers. Typically, the main causes of poor air quality at work are:

1. The location of the building. If it is near major avenues or highways, it can be affected by numerous sources of dust and particles. Construction areas are also highly polluting.
2. Hazardous materials. Some types of plastics indoors and specific materials, such as asbestos, can worsen air quality and be harmful to our health.
3. Poor air circulation. If not ventilated properly, an indoor room can generate what is known as stale air, which would significantly affect the health of workers.

The quality of indoor air depends significantly on the ventilation system and its ability to replace air that has lost quality with fresh air. It can also prevent moisture formation and eliminate the presence of pollutants in the air. Additionally, it can improve the energy efficiency of the building and offer more sustainable climate control compared to traditional heating or air conditioning systems.

Improving Ventilation at Work and in Industrial Environments

Office ventilation is very important, but in other professional environments, air quality can be even more problematic. For example, in ventilation in industrial environments. In these cases, it is crucial to prevent fires and issues with explosives. Additionally, pollution is usually much higher in such workplaces. Moreover, the industry generates a lot of heat and humidity, so these values must be maintained within a reasonable range.

In both complicated professional environments and offices, ventilation at work can be ensured through the following actions:

• Minimize processes that generate heat and produce steam. For example, screens can be placed in front of heat sources.
• Increase air renewal and circulation if it becomes frequently dirty.
• Install mechanical ventilation systems. Also, if it is hot, a faster air renewal can help with cooling.
• In the case of offices, installing a dual flow ventilation system can not only renew the air but also help combat low temperatures in winter and heat in summer. By introducing outside air, an exchange with the extracted air occurs, leading to high energy efficiency climate control.
• Furthermore, the dual flow ventilation continuously introduces filtered air. In no case does outside air enter the rooms as it is outside the building. All air is filtered, meaning the air inside is better than outside.
• The indoor temperature should not be too high in winter or too low in summer, as sometimes happens with excessive heating and air conditioning use.

If we manage to control ventilation at work, we will improve the condition of the workers, while productivity and performance will increase thanks to better quality air.