Air quality in the workplace is not always visible, but it can significantly impact employee health and productivity. Fresh air is essential for both the body and the ability to concentrate. A lack of fresh air leads to fatigue, headaches, loss of concentration and increased absenteeism.
A healthy indoor climate is of great importance, especially in industries where machines produce a lot of heat or where harmful substances are released.
How does oxygen deficiency occur in the workplace?
Oxygen deficiency occurs when insufficient fresh air is supplied and contaminated air is not properly exhausted. Almost every manufacturing process releases fumes or dust particles. Without adequate ventilation, people can inhale this polluted air. The dust particles can also accumulate in equipment, leading to malfunctions and additional maintenance.
Consequences of poor air quality
An unhealthy indoor environment has several adverse effects:
- Health: polluted air in the workplace can lead to breathing problems, headaches, fatigue and an increased risk of allergies and long-term complaints. This increases the risk of sick leave.
- Productivity: research shows that a good indoor climate can increase poductivity by 10-15%. Contaminated air lowers performance.
- Safety: without proper ventilation, harmful substances are also given free rein to accumulate, which can lead to serious risks such as poisoning or even explosions.
- Employee turnover: too hot, too cold, too humid or too dry air, combined with high levels of CO₂, makes the work environment unpleasant, leading to increased turnover among employees. Recruiting and onboarding new employees again creates additional costs.
Fanger's ISO7730 Predicted Mean Vote (PMV)/Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) theory substantiates this scientifically. It states that workplace comfort is directly affected by temperature, humidity, radiation, clothing, activities and air velocity. When the indoor climate deviates from the ideal zone, dissatisfied employees increase rapidly. So, especially in industrial environments, keeping the climate stable, pleasant and healthy is essential.
This graph shows what percentage of people (PPD) are likely to be uncomfortable at different temperatures according to Fanger's PMV/PPD theory. PMV = -2.0 represents cold, and PMV = 2 represents warm. At PMV = 0, most people feel comfortable. The further you deviate from this, the more people feel uncomfortable with heat or cold.
Legal obligations for healthy air quality in the workplace
According to European directives on working conditions, companies must ensure adequate ventilation and a safe working environment. Employers must ensure healthy air quality and may not exceed the legal limit values for harmful substances.
Suppose air quality poses a direct health risk. In that case, employees in the European Union may have the right to refuse work under certain conditions, as outlined in national implementations of EU occupational health and safety directives. Such actions must generally be well-justified and carried out in consultation with a workplace safety representative, occupational health service, or works council. National labour inspectorates in EU member states can investigate complaints and enforce corrective measures if air quality fails to meet the required legal standards.
Challenges and opportunities in energy-efficient climate control
/Book%20cover%20pictures%20(whitepapers%20and%20case%20studies)/NL/Uitdagingen%20en%20kansen/Uitdagingen%20en%20kansen%20airconditioning%20typ.png?width=155&height=222&name=Uitdagingen%20en%20kansen%20airconditioning%20typ.png)
The white paper “Challenges and opportunities for energy-efficient climate control” looks at the impact of air quality, opportunities to improve your plant, and sustainable solutions for climate control in industrial environments.
Improving air quality in the workplace starts with smart ventilation. The IntrCooll system delivers 100% fresh, filtered air and helps businesses meet the most stringent requirements for a safe and healthy work environment. For more information, visit our webpage.
Contact a specialist
Do you prefer direct contact with a specialist to discuss your challenges? If so, please fill out the form below. We will be happy to help you further.
