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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution is one of the biggest threats to human health after climate change. Using the latest clean air technology not only keeps employees healthy and lowers absenteeism, but it also appeals to increasingly healthy and lifestyle conscious residents.
As Edward Hector, MD at SFI Group, an air-conditioning provider explains, although we associate South Africa with beautiful, clear air, the fact is that many of us are going to work breathing in unsafe air.
“Employees should be looking to maximise the air quality, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because of the very clear benefits that come with improved air quality,” he says.
Tested science
Hector believes the best solution for South African companies is bipolar ionization, technology first pioneered by Albert Einstein.
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It works by delivering ionized oxygen molecules into the air that then neutralise chemical compounds, mould, dust, smoke, and even viruses in a matter of minutes. The charged airborne particles cluster and fall to the ground or collect in standard HVAC filter systems. The ions also produce a chemical reaction on surface of viruses and bacteria that immediately makes them inactive.
A competitive edge
Research shows that air quality in an office can have significant impacts on employees’ cognitive function, including response times and ability to focus and it can even affect productivity positively.
Just reducing black mould in the workplace, for example, can help prevent asthma and other chronic respiratory disease or lung infections in the workplace.
Corporate leaders tend to dedicate budgets to incorporate employee wellness programmes, but typically overlook what they are forcing their staff to breathe in when they are at work.
Cleaner air is good for business
Air quality could be a real business differentiator in the next few years. It’s not just workers in buildings close to refineries that suffer from air quality challenges.
Everyone must think about the impact of Covid in the air too and how that can affect health. Hector says: “When we shifted to green buildings, the thinking was to minimise fresh air but is only now with Covid that the thinking has reversed. The sensible route is to ensure that any air already circulating is as clean as possible.”
There are several ways to ensure the air is kept fresh, and this doesn’t have to involve expensive air purifying equipment. To keep the air clean or reduce the chances of people catching Covid, employers should:
- Minimise the amount of time employees spend indoors.
- Restrict or avoid activities which will involve people gathering closely in one room.
- Ventilate the space by opening windows and doors – remember to open trickle vents too to boost circulation.
- Add office plants. They’re not only aesthetically pleasing but help to absorb toxins and produce more oxygen for the room.
- Maintain any mechanical ventilation systems to ensure they are in good working order.
