June is National Safety Month!
June is National Safety Month
Proper filtration is important safety and health component in all work environments. Don’t overlook the role of clean air of in the health and well being of your employees. According to the EPA, people spend about 90% of their time indoors and poor indoor air quality is one of the top five public health threats at work. 
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
IAQ is part of what the CDC/NIOSH considers indoor environmental quality (IEQ). IEQ refers to the indoor environment where people live or work. If 20% or more of your employees suffer respiratory ailments, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms at work, but feel better on the weekend or while on vacation, it may be a sign of sick-building syndrome. These symptoms are most commonly related to poor ventilation, dampness, and cleanliness.
Action Plan
According to Vincent Marinkovich, MD in an interview with WebMD, poor maintenance of HVAC systems is a leading cause of many of the issues faced by his patients who suffer from sick-building syndrome.
Change your filters on a regular basis as an inexpensive way to help filter out harmful particles in the air. This includes outdoor sources, like exhaust, and pollen and indoor sources known as Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) that come from paint, carpets, cleaning supplies, and office machinery.
The EPA offers a comprehensive step by step plan to help you maintain safe indoor air. The Building Air Quality-Action Plan: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Manager (BAQ) provides best practices for solving these issues, and preventing them in the first place. Ordering information for this helpful resource to implement and maintain your indoor air quality program can be found at: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Buidling Air Quality Report.
For more information please check out these articles and sources.
US Small Business Administration- National Safety Month
