Workplace issues: Dust can become a health risk

Ventilation and air cleaning are important for better
indoor air quality and higher productivity.

Indoor air pollution can affect anyone working indoors for the majority of the day, including office workers, police officers, social workers and court employees.

Common symptoms are

• Chronic coughs and sneezing
• Scratchy throats
• Itchy eyes
• Headaches
• Recurrent bouts of sinus infections, bronchitis, allergies and asthma

The symptoms may only be apparent in some workers, while other remain unaffected, making it difficult for sufferers to be taken seriously.

The health effects can be caused by indoor air pollutants such as mold, chemicals and dust.

In fact, dust is often overlooked as a main irritant in indoor environments, according to an occupational hygienist working at Connecticut’s OSHA division.

Every indoor environment will be polluted by dust, which is generally comprised of fine particles, skin dander, insect parts, pollen, cobwebs, dirt and other contaminants. Dust can also be a source of exposure for chemicals and bacteria that have attached themselves to the particles.

Indoor air pollution - a hidden danger at the workplace

With less money available for cleaning services and similar tasks, indoor air quality has become a growing problem in most buildings.

Workers may be too busy or unwilling to clean their own work spaces, and the rising occurrence of extreme weather events leads to increased leaks and flooding and possible mold infestations.

According to the EPA, poor indoor air quality costs tens of billions of dollars annually in lost productivity and health care.

Source: The Day Connecticut

Tips for a healthier and cleaner office

1. Keep offices free of clutter and obstructions. Airflow is essential to good air quality, so an overcrowded and cluttered office will be a challenge
2. Maintain heating and air conditioning equipment. This includes regular cleanings or at least spot checks to ensure that there is no mold or other biological growth. Air vents and intakes should not be obstructed.
3. Regular dusting and cleaning of the office space should include the walls and floors behind desks and all surfaces, regardless of whether people like to have their things moved or not.
4. Keep it healthy. Do not use scented air fresheners or harsh cleaning products
5. Use an air cleaner with activated carbon and HEPA. This combination of air filters can remove airborne pollutants such as dust, particles, mold, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, odors and fumes.

Want to know more about air cleaners for offices and large buildings? Electrocorp offers a wide range of air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that feature an activated carbon, HEPA and optional UV filter combination. Contact an IAQ specialist from Electrocorp for more information and recommendations.
  

Bacteria and other contaminants in hotel rooms

Hotel rooms can be full of
bacteria and other pollutants.

No matter how diligent hotels are with their cleaning regimen – the lack of cleaning standards and other factors allow many surfaces to be contaminated, researchers say.

Scientists from the University of Houston examined surfaces of hotel rooms and found television remotes to be the most contaminated with bacteria. Also, items on the housekeeping cart can potentially lead to cross-contamination between rooms, they say.

Most hotels and guests judge a room’s cleanliness by how clean it looks, but this is an ineffective method of measuring levels of sanitation.

Contaminated surfaces can spread infections during outbreaks in hotels, and immunocompromised individuals may be specifically at risk, the researchers warn.

As expected, other highly contaminated surfaces included the toilet and bathroom sink as well as the bedside lamp switch.

Source: The American Society for Microbiology

Other pollutants in hotel rooms

Mold - Typical causes for mold in hotels are deficient air conditioning systems and air and water leaks in the building walls. Most hotel rooms have little fresh air exchange and let mold and bacteria thrive in an environment of vinyl wall paper and shower steam.

Pesticides – It may be bed bugs or other insects or pests thathave invaded a hotel – but the use of pesticides can be quite dangerous to hotel guests as well, since they often contain toxic chemicals.

Chemicals – Building materials, furniture, textiles, carpets and other substances in hotel rooms may off-gas chemicals and volatile organic compounds that can be irritants and known health hazards. Other chemical pollutants come from cleaning products and personal care products as well as air fresheners.

Allergens - The hotel's mattress, pillow, rug, drapery and upholstered furniture can all easily collect dust, mites and bodily secretions — all of which can cause reactions in allergy sufferers.

Tobacco smoke – Smoking is banned in many hotels, but certain rooms may be designated as smoke rooms (and certain guests may light up, anyway). Stale tobacco smoke is difficult to eradicate and can leave behind harmful chemicals and toxins.

Air cleaners for hotels

Air cleaners for hypoallergenic
hotel rooms, odor control,
mold control and more.

Using non-toxic materials and products whenever possible, implementing a strict cleaning regimen and making sure there is adequate ventilation can all help to improve indoor air quality in hotels – but the right air cleaner will provide cleaner and healthier air around the clock.

The best air cleaners for hotels feature a combination of activated carbon, HEPA and a UV lamps to remove odors, chemicals, gases, particles, dust, mold spores, bacteria and viruses from the air. They should be easy to use, quiet and equipped with long-lasting filters.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and the best air cleaners for your hotel, motel, inn or hospitality business.
  

Cleaning services: Is greener also healthier?

Cleaning products may contain irritating
chemicals and toxins.

When it comes to cleaning homes and buildings, those employed in cleaning services used to take the brunt of fumes and chemicals emitted by commercial cleaning products – and started feeling the health effects.

Caustics or solvents that are often found in common household cleaning products can cause health effects such as headaches, irritation to the eyes, nose or throat and more. 

Irritating chemicals are found in oven cleaners, drain cleaners, scouring powders and bleach, for example.

Long-term exposure to some solvents may cause liver and kidney problems, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and cancer. Solvents can be found in furniture polish, silver cleaner, paint remover and wood floor wax, among other products.

Fortunately, a growing industry trend towards greener, non-toxic products may help cleaning businesses protect not only their own workers, but also their clients’ family members, pets and homes or offices.

Cleaning services using organic products report that their workers’ symptoms have all but disappeared and that a growing number of clients are asking about the toxicity of products that are used.

Source: News-Press

Air cleaners for offices, homes and other buildings

The use of organic, non-toxic cleaning products will contribute to better indoor air quality, but pollutants also come from building products and finishing treatments, electronic devices, personal care products, air “freshening” products and many other sources.

Better ventilation may help, but existing HVAC systems often can’t provide the required fresh air exchanges.

This is why Electrocorp has designed portable and powerful air cleaners for offices, homes and other buildings and workplaces.

The air cleaners feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, allergens, mold, bacteria and viruses.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Using only green-certified products a challenge, contractors say

While green products are popular in general,
a green-only approach is still difficult.

The green industry has been flourishing not only with the growing popularity of LEED-certified buildings, but also with an abundance of greener products entering the market.

Many business cleaning services are making the switch to certified versions of commonly used green products such as cleaning agents, soap and hand sanitizer.

However, green specialty products seem to have a harder time becoming mainstream.

Green-certified carpet extractors, furniture polishes, metal polishes, concrete stripping or graffiti removal are products that are used only occasionally and need to work quickly.

Green specialty products more expensive

A lower demand in these types of products, high certification costs and questions of efficiency can all translate into higher prices – especially because the makers of these products have to amortize their certification costs in rising prices.

At least a third-party standard is now available for these products, with the launch of the new Green Seal GS-53 for Specialty Cleaning Products for Industrial and Institutional Use in 2011.

The standard covers a wide range of products, including dish soaps, graffiti removers, automotive cleansers, outdoor cleaners, odor removers and polishes and waxes.

Many contractors are also finding that a tough economic environment makes it difficult to keep making green products a priority since many building owners are facing a growing vacancy rate and lower lease rates.

A healthy environment is still important to most building owners, the contractors say, but cost is also an issue.

Source: Clean Link

A healthy environment needs clean indoor air

Indoor air pollution is one of the main reasons people get sick, feel unwell or may not be as productive as usual.

The indoor air in many buildings, offices and workplaces can be contaminated by airborne chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and more.

A portable air cleaner with activated carbon and HEPA filters can help remove the widest range of indoor air contaminants.

Electrocorp has developed air cleaners for industrial and commercial purposes with a proven track record in offices, facility management, schools and universities, libraries and archives, law enforcement and more.

For more information, contact Electrocorp.
 

Facility management: Use less toxic products for industrial and commercial cleaning purposes

Commercial cleaning involves more than slipping
hazards: Harmful chemicals may affect the air quality.

Retail stores, offices, laboratories, manufacturing facilities and other types of commercial spaces often need a good scrubbing – but the type of cleaning products can have an effect on the indoor air quality as well as the health and well-being of the employees or visitors.

Standard commercial cleaning products fall in the harsh chemical category, meaning they contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can become airborne and inhaled by building occupants.

They can not only contribute to poor indoor air quality and affect the people’s health, they can also be harmful to the environment and pollute groundwater.

It may be a better, safer and more cost-effective idea to go for greener industrial cleaning products.

A non-profit organization dedicated to setting standards for eco-friendly products/services/companies, Green Seal has established requirements for cleaning service providers, including in-house and external cleaning services, to create a green cleaning program that protects human health and the environment.

There are many ways facility managers and cleaning service providers can become greener.

• Cleaning products: Opt for environmentally friendly, green cleaning products whenever possible (general-purpose, floor, bathroom, carpet and all other types of cleaning agents).
• Chemical safety: Products with harsh chemicals need to be diluted properly, cleaners need to be trained properly and it’s a great idea to slowly phase out cleaning chemicals that may pose a risk to human health.
• Bulk purchasing: Liquid hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning cloths and agents can be bought in large quantities to save on costs and packaging in the long run.
• Sanitation and disinfection: Use EPA-registered products for special areas that need disinfecting or sanitizing.
• Communicate: Good communication between cleaning personnel, facility managers and others involved is key to a safe and functional green cleaning program.

Source: Mother Nature Network, Green Seal guidelines


Reduce chemical pollutants in your facility

Electrocorp air filtration systems provide simple, cost-effective solutions to meet and exceed regulations and enhance a property’s environmental initiatives.

Our wide range of air cleaners feature advanced, proven technologies including deep-bed activated carbon, medical-grade HEPA and UV filtration to treat airborne chemicals, gases, odors and particles.

Using an industrial-strength filtration system at strategic points in the building can have a profound effect on the indoor air quality, reported health symptoms or complaints and perceived irritants.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s air cleaners for facility management or contact one of our IAQ specialists at 866-667-0297 for more information.