You Are The Air You Breathe

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY 

Every day we all face a variety of risks to our health and our safety as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, walking on ice, taking showers, etc. Most of these risks are simply unavoidable but there are some risks and safety hazards that despite being unavoidable, we can reduce the level of risk involved with them. Indoor air quality in both your home and your workplace is one risk that you can do something about.

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been tied to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Also, some specific diseases have been linked to specific air contaminants or indoor environments, like asthma with damp indoor environments. In addition, some exposures, such as asbestos and radon, do not cause immediate symptoms but can lead to cancer after many years.

Some of the main causes of poor IAQ are, but are not limited to:

• Poor Ventilation
• Unregulated Temperatures.
• High/Low Humidity.
• Fumes from airborne chemicals in the workplace. 
• Dust, Mold, Pesticides, Etc. 

It’s important to be aware of these potential hazards to your air quality and to consult with your building manager or employer about potential solutions. The most important step you can take to improve IAQ is having the right ventilation and building care. Also, if you work with any airborne chemicals or substances that you could breath in, it’s important to take extra precautions and wear masks when appropriate. 

Indoor air quality concerns are a fact of life for building owners, business owners, managers, and occupants. It’s almost impossible to make everyone completely happy with temperatures, humidity, etc., however, it is possible to provide a work environment that is healthy and safe. You should establish clear lines of communication so that IAQ issues can be detected and resolved as soon as possible. A building/company managed with an eye for preventing IAQ problems greatly reduces the likelihood of discomfort and will likely increase your employees’ productivity.

Thank you for your time and attention.  Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Christopher Feigal

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company