Work performance suffers from poor IAQ: Study

New research shows air pollution might make you bad at your job

Fine particles may infiltrate deep into
the lungs and cause health problems.

In 2011, researchers at UC San Diego and Columbia University were the first to demonstrate a link between air pollution and reduced productivity among outdoor agricultural workers.

Now those researchers are back with a new study, entitled “Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers.”

The study shows, for the first time, a significant link between air pollution and the productivity of indoor workers.

The pollutant in question is fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. It’s notable for its tiny size (less than 1/30th the width of a human hair), which allows it to infiltrate deep into your lungs and potentially even your bloodstream, where it can cause all sorts of health problems.

The authors note that PM2.5 can easily enter buildings: “Unlike other pollutants, which either remain outside or rapidly break down once indoors, going inside may do little to reduce one’s exposure to PM2.5.”

To figure out how this affected indoor workers, the authors drew on data from an indoor pear-packing factory in northern California.

“We focused on pear packing for this study since it was located near an air pollution monitor and paid workers piece rate, which allowed us to measure individual worker productivity on a daily level,” author Joshua Graff Zivin told me.

What they found was that every 10-microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 levels decreased worker productivity by 0.6%, as measured by the number pear boxes packed by each worker.

Since workers were paid piecemeal, this translated to a decrease of roughly 41 cents per hour, per 10 micrograms of PM2.5 relationship between worker productivity and air pollution.

Moreover, the effect increased at higher PM2.5 levels: levels between 15 and 20 micrograms reduced earnings by $0.53 per hour, levels between 20 and 25 micrograms decrease earnings by $1.03 per hour, and when levels exceed 25 micrograms/cubic meter earnings shrink by $1.88 per hour.

One key point is that these levels are all well below current U.S. air quality standards for PM2.5, which stand at 35 micrograms/m3. The U.S. didn’t even start regulating this pollutant until 1997.

Across the U.S., PM2.5 levels routinely cross this 35 microgram threshold every day. Airnow.gov, an EPA website that tracks air quality in U.S. cities, is currently showing PM2.5 levels of 69 micrograms in Atlanta, 72 in Cleveland, and a whopping 140 in Albuquerque, NM.

If those figures seem high be thankful you don’t live in Beijing, where PM2.5 levels topped 250 micrograms today.

One major implication of the study is that reductions of PM2.5 can have significant economic benefits. The authors estimate that across the entire U.S. manufacturing sector, reductions in PM2.5 since 1997 has led to an aggregate labor savings of $19.5 billion – a previously-unknown benefit of fine particulate regulation.

The larger question, of course, is whether these findings extend even to workers in retail and other regular office settings.

“We are very curious about this,” Graff Zivin told me. “Whether more cognitive indoor activities are subject to similar effects is an important area for future research, but there is certainly a plausible channel through which these could occur.”

Source: Washington Post

Improve indoor air quality at work

Poor indoor air quality can not only affect work performance, but also workers' health and well-being as well as morale.

For improved IAQ, Electrocorp offers industrial and commercial air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA, which effectively remove fine particles, odors, chemicals, fumes, mold, bacteria and viruses from the ambient air.

The wide range of units includes air cleaners for offices, air cleaners for chemical processing plants, air cleaners for welding fume extraction, air cleaners for hospital and health care, and many more workplace uses.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and a free consultation.

Healthy schools: HVAC tips for winter

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system keeps schools comfortable in colder months

Poor indoor air quality in schools may affect health and
well-being of students, teachers and staff.

Quality HVAC system design, operation and maintenance are critical for providing healthy IAQ in schools.

Properly functioning HVAC systems provide adequate ventilation, control odors and reduce the pollutants that cause most IAQ problems inside school buildings. In addition to improving occupant health and performance, regular HVAC maintenance saves energy.


In anticipation of the colder months, schools should pay special attention to their HAVC units, including:

• Be aware of indoor humidity levels as the outside temperature drops. To protect health, comfort, the school building and its contents, it is important that indoor relative humidity be maintained below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%.

Did You Know?

In colder climates, there can be operating conditions which will cause freezing within the energy recovery heat exchanger and it is often necessary to equip ERV systems with a frost control option.

• Ensure that facilities and maintenance staff change filters on a regular basis. Air filters should have a dust-spot rating between 35% and 80% or a Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) between 8 and 13 depending on the compatibility of your air handling unit. The higher the MERV rating, the more particulates will be filtered.
• Ensure proper ventilation as there are significant spatial and seasonal variations in the volume of air delivered by most HVAC systems. Learn more by checking out the ASHRAE Standard 62-2013.
• Have a plan to ensure HVAC systems are functioning property over winter and holiday breaks. With intermittent building occupancy over breaks, outdoor air ventilation rates may need to be adjusted. Check all air registers to ensure that they are not obstructed by furniture or large objects that may have been moved inadvertently.

HVAC Resources

Checklist: Download and use the ventilation checklist. Tailor it to fit the needs of your individual school or district.

Software: The School Advanced Ventilation Engineering Software (SAVES) package is a tool to help school designers assess the potential financial payback and indoor humidity control benefits of Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems for school applications. Both SAVES software tools (the Energy Recovery Ventilation Financial Assessment Software Tool (EFAST) and the Indoor Humidity Assessment Tool (IHAT)) can be downloaded here.

Standards: School HVAC systems should be designed and operated to provide a minimum outdoor air ventilation rate consistent with current ASHRAE Standards 62.1. For classrooms, this standard is about 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of outdoor air per person.

Webinars: Poorly maintained HVAC units can lead to IAQ problems, such as mold issues. For additional information on how to create healthy learning environments in the winter, download the two webinars, Mold and Moisture: Double Trouble for Schools and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools - Basics for Winter.

Source: EPA

Protect school's IAQ with air cleaners

While the HVAC system plays a major role in keeping a school's indoor air environment healthy and comfortable, many educational facilities are plagued by poor indoor air quality, which can negatively affect students, teachers and staff.

Electrocorp's RAP series
provide cleaner air.

Health, well-being and productivity may suffer when the air contains high levels of VOCs, mold, bacteria, viruses, allergens, particles and chemical fumes.

Apart from source control and ventilation, schools can improve their indoor air quality with a few well-placed indoor air cleaners. Electrocorp has designed a variety of indoor air purifiers for schools and universities that provide cleaner and more breathable air all day long.

The air cleaners feature a comprehensive activated carbon and HEPA air filter system, which removes a wide range of chemicals, odors, particles, dust, allergens and fumes.

Optional UV germicidal filtration helps neutralize biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold.

For more information, contact Electrocorp and speak to an IAQ expert.

Company culture of health brings value and success, study shows

Study suggests companies with a ‘culture of health’ may outperform others in the marketplace

Those with strong health, wellness, and safety programs bested S&P 500 average rate of return in investment simulations

Companies that build a culture of health by focusing on the well-being and safety of their workforce may yield greater value for their investors, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM), official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Healthy and safe employees are good
for business, researchers say.

The stock market performance of companies that had received ACOEM’s Corporate Health Achievement Award (CHAA), which annually recognizes the healthiest and safest companies in North America, was conducted at HealthNEXT LLC and analyzed by lead authors Raymond Fabius, MD, and R. Dixon Thayer, and colleagues. Companies that receive the award must be engaged in demonstrable and robust efforts to reduce health and safety risks among their employees.

Tracking an initial theoretical investment of $10,000 in publicly traded CHAA-recipients from the mid 1990s to 2012, researchers found that these award-winning CHAA companies outperformed the S&P 500.

Four investment scenarios were created, using a combination of simulations and past market-performance to create investor portfolios for comparison. While the margin of return varied, CHAA recipients outperformed the market in each of the four scenarios.

In the highest-performing scenario, CHAA companies had an annualized return of 5.23% vs. −0.06% for the S&P 500. In the lowest-performing scenario, CHAA companies had an annualized return of 6.03% vs. 2.92% for the S&P 500.

“Our results strongly support the view that focusing on health and safety of a workforce is good business,” said the study authors. “Engaging in a comprehensive effort to promote wellness, reduce the health risks of a workforce, and mitigate the complications of chronic illness within these populations can produce remarkable impacts on health care costs, productivity and performance.”

The authors acknowledge that the study focuses on the performance of a small collection of companies on the stock market for a limited number of years, and that more research is needed before a strong causal relationship can be established between health and safety programs and market results.

But they conclude that the study adds new evidence-based data to a growing body of literature indicating that “healthy workforces provide a competitive financial advantage in the marketplace.”

Source: American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lab Manager

Create healthier indoor environments with air purifiers

Breathing in contaminated air for prolonged periods of time can affect the respiratory tract, cardiovascular and other parts of the human body. Unfortunately, the air in many offices and workplaces contains toxic chemicals, particles, biological contaminants and irritating odors.

Electrocorp has designed highly functional and portable air filtration systems for commercial and industrial applications, which can provide cleaner and healthier air at the workplace.

Examples of Electrocorp's areas of expertise:

• Hospitals and healthcare (clinics, doctor's offices, waiting rooms, etc)
• Offices and office printers
• Law enforcement (police departments, evidence rooms)
• Schools and universities
• Art restoration
• Hair salons and spas
• Museums and libraries
• Chemical and odor control

The air cleaners feature many pounds of activated carbon (activated charcoal) for airborne chemicals and gases, HEPA filters for particulate matter and optional UV germicidal filtration.

For more information or a consultation with an IAQ expert, contact Electrocorp.

Workers unhappy with open offices: Study

Employees in open offices complain about increased noise
and less privacy, researchers say.

Recent trend of activity-based office spaces not popular with workers

A study by researchers at the University of Sydney has found that many employees feel activity-based working environments, which feature open-office plans designed to foster teamwork, are disruptive to their productivity.

Jungsoo Kim, one of the study's authors, said open-office layouts, which have been a growing trend in recent years, have been touted as a way to boost workplace satisfaction and team effectiveness.

"We found people in open-plan offices were less satisfied with their workplace environment than those in private offices," Kim said. "The benefits of being close to co-workers in open-plan offices were offset by factors such as increased noise and less privacy."

The research was based on surveys of more than 42,000 office workers in the United States, Finland, Canada and Australia.

In addition, researchers analyzed a University of California database that measures indoor environment quality in office buildings, factoring in things such as indoor air quality, temperature, lighting, noise, privacy and the amount of space an individual perceives they have.

Researchers said that the data further validated earlier findings that uncontrollable noise and loss of privacy are the main sources of workplace dissatisfaction in open-plan offices.

Kim said open-plan offices dominate modern workplaces, yet there is little solid evidence they improve interaction between co-workers.

The study, co-authored by professor Richard de Dear, was recently published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Source: BusinessNewsDaily 

Ways to improve the office atmosphere

Disgruntled workers don't have high productivity ratings, but there are many things employers can do to improve the situation -- short of remodeling the entire office.

• Enforce office rules to respect privacy and work hours. Make sure employees know that they should concentrate on their work during office hours instead of interacting with each other unnecessarily.

  

  Electrocorp air cleaners feature
  carbon, HEPA and optional UV.

• Tell facilities management to monitor the indoor environment closely. Conditions such as temperatures that are too high or too low, humidity that is too high or too low and poor indoor air quality can affect employees' health, well-being and productivity. Listen to their concerns and make the necessary changes.
• Use portable dehumidifiers, heaters and air cleaners where needed. Some offices require extra help, especially when the existing HVAC system is unable to do the job. The air cleaners should have activated carbon, HEPA and possibly UV germicidal filtration for best results. These filters can remove airborne chemicals, particles, odors, fumes, mold, bacteria and viruses.
• Make sure the office is well lit and ventilated.
• Make some private offices or meeting rooms available to workers. 

Want to know more about indoor air quality in offices and how it affects worker productivity and attendance records? Have a look at some previous posts or contact an Electrocorp IAQ specialist for more information. Electrocorp has designed a wide range of indoor air cleaners with carbon, HEPA and UV for offices
and printers.

New Study Offers Insight Into How to Best Manage Workaholics

Photo: adamr/freedigitalphotos.net

Workaholics tend to live in extremes, with great job satisfaction and creativity on the one hand and high levels of frustration and exhaustion on the other hand. Now, a new Florida State University study offers managers practical ways to help these employees stay healthy and effective on the job.

Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration in Florida State’s College of Business, and research associate Daniel Herrera studied more than 400 employees in professional and administrative occupations and found about 60 percent of these workers identified themselves as workaholics who characteristically “feel guilty when taking time off.”

These self-identified workaholics reported positive and negative career consequences. For example, workaholics reported they gave more effort compared to other workers, but they also experienced more tension. They were more willing to help others, yet were more likely to view co-workers as feeling entitled.

“We found that there is an optimal level of workaholism for job effectiveness and positive health,” Hochwarter said. “However, when in excessively low or high ranges, both the company and the employee are likely to suffer.”

Identified workaholics were divided into those who had access to resources, such as personnel, rest, equipment and social support at work, and those who did not.

“We discovered that workaholics really struggle when they feel that they are alone or swimming upstream without a paddle,” Hochwarter said.

Workaholics who said they had access to resources reported a:
•40 percent higher rate of job satisfaction
•33 percent lower rate of burnout
•30 percent higher rate of perceived job importance
•30 percent lower rate of exclusion from others
•25 percent higher rate of career fulfillment
•20 percent lower rate of work frustration.

“Given the volatility in today’s work environment, the ability to work hard, contribute long hours and demonstrate value is at a premium,” Herrera said. “Thus, workaholism will likely remain alive and well for years to come.”

But there are ways to guide the efforts of workaholics in positive directions, researchers said.

First, leaders should meet with workaholics to determine what physical and social resources they need and then help increase their accessibility to those resources in fair and reasonable ways, according to the researchers. Managers often assume that workaholics simply want others to get out of their way. In reality, the goal of most workaholics is to contribute to the company, achieve personal success and see how their efforts affect the bottom line — objectives that are much more likely achieved with resources.

Second, managers need to have more realistic expectations, they said. Workaholics are often the company’s most productive employees — serving as the manager’s “go-to” worker when an important project surfaces or a deadline looms. Because of their value, managers have a tendency to run workaholics into the ground, promising a future chance to recharge that often never happens.

“Having realistic expectations that take into account both the work and the person doing the work, is essential,” Hochwarter said. The warning signs of burnout are recognizable and, if ignored, they will eventually lead to unwanted outcomes ranging from declining performance to death.
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Cleaner indoor air is associated with an increase in job satisfaction and a reduction in absenteeism. Contact an Electrocorp Air Quality Expert to learn more about our industrial air cleaners.

Health Experts Say Changes Needed to Ensure Productivity of Aging Workers

New efforts to integrate health protection and health promotion programs in the workplace are needed soon if the nation’s aging workforce is to remain competitive and productive, according to recommendations released this week by two leading U.S. occupational health organizations.

The recommendations, published in the May Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), summarize results of a two-day, national invitational summit on aging in the workplace, convened last year by ACOEM and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Between 2005 and 2030, the number of Americans 65 and older will almost double – with a significant number continuing to work. By 2015, it is estimated that one in five U.S. workers will be a Baby Boomer. Statistics show that this demographic group reports a higher incidence than earlier generations of chronic disease and other health limitations that can impact work.

Among their key recommendations, summit participants called for greater awareness of aging issues among employers and establishment of a new “culture of health” in the workplace that better integrates safety and wellness programs to ensure workers are able to work productively and in good health throughout their careers. The recommendations call for “age-friendly” programs and policies which will create optimal working conditions for workers in each phase of careers – from the earliest stages through retirement.

As a part of this effort, the recommendations call for incentives in health benefits to encourage more healthy behaviors among employees, the use of new models of “job transitioning” that help employees remain productive even as their capacities for work change, and the use of new standards for measuring the value of companies that would include workforce health as a factor. The recommendations also call for better research-design models to help collect better data on worker health, and for more research on the investment value of health protection and promotion in the workplace.

Participants at the aging summit were comprised of a diverse pool of leaders in health, safety, and business – including corporations, academia, medicine, government, business coalitions, and experts from NIOSH, ACOEM, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The aging of the world’s populations will have many dramatic impacts on society – and among the most significant of them will be the effect on national productivity,” said Ronald Loeppke, MD, ACOEM President, who helped organize the summit. “The good news is that aging workers are a valuable resource that can be engaged for nation’s benefit - but only if we redouble our efforts to keep them healthy over the full span of their careers.”

Older workers can play an invaluable role in the workplace, bringing with them their years of experience and knowledge,” said summit co-organizer and Senior Science Advisor at NIOSH Anita Schill, PhD. “Better integration of health protection and health promotion measures aimed at improving the health of individuals in both the workplace and in the community are needed to help all workers achieve their full potential.”

The summit’s recommendations call for a new multi-generational approach to aging in the workplace that emphasizes worker health from the first day a young person enters the workforce. “This is not about simply trying to keep older workers healthy – it’s about better health for everyone, and creation of a culture in which employers consider health promotion and protection an integral part of their long-term planning for all employees,” said Dr. Loeppke.

ACOEM and NIOSH have announced that they plan additional collaborations in the future on workplace aging, including an extension of the work started with the Summit on Advancing the Health Protection and Promotion of an Aging Workforce.
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Cleaner indoor air is associated with an increase in productivity and job satisfaction. Contact an Electrocorp Air Quality Expert to learn more about our industrial air cleaners.

Bosses must stick to consequences to stop employees from wasting time online, researcher finds

Are your employees watching cat videos, shopping online and updating their Facebook statuses?

A Kansas State University researcher studied cyberloafing -- wasting time at work on the Internet -- and the effects of Internet use policies and punishment on reducing cyberloafing.

Joseph Ugrin, assistant professor of accounting at Kansas State University, and John Pearson, associate professor of management at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, found that company policies are not enough to stop workers from wasting time at work and that sanctions with policies must be consistently enforced for policies to be effective.

The study will be published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior.

Cyberloafing results in lost productivity and could put companies in legal trouble when workers conduct illegal activity or unacceptable behavior like viewing pornography on work computers. Between 60 and 80 percent of people's time on the Internet at work has nothing to do with work.

Although organizations benefit from positive aspects of the Internet like improved communication, some have trouble addressing cyberloafing, Ugrin said. Companies spend time, money and effort trying to monitor computer usage, detect what employees are doing online and write policies for employees on acceptable Internet behavior.

The researchers, who surveyed office workers and university students, found that both older and younger workers find ways to waste time on the Internet -- but in different ways.

"Older people are doing things like managing their finances, while young people found it much more acceptable to spend time on social networking sites like Facebook," said Ugrin, who studies behavioral and ethical issues related to accounting and information systems.

Threats of termination and detection mechanisms are effective deterrents against activities such as viewing pornography, managing personal finances and personal shopping, according to the study. However, that may not be enough.

Policies must be enforced to discourage activities like excessive personal emailing and social networking.

"We found that that for young people, it was hard to get them to think that social networking was unacceptable behavior," Ugrin said. "Just having a policy in place did not change their attitudes or behavior at all. Even when they knew they were being monitored, they still did not care."

Researchers discovered that the only way to change people's attitudes is to provide them with information about other employees who were reprimanded.

But that strategy can have negative consequences in the workplace and can lower morale, Ugrin said.

"People will feel like Big Brother is watching them, so companies need to be careful when taking those types of action," he said.

The study allows questions for further study, Ugrin said.

"We don't want to make everyone at work upset because the corporate office is watching over their employees' shoulders," he said, "but what if workers are wasting all of their time online? Where's the balance?"
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Looking for other ways to improve workplace productivity? Cleaner indoor air raises productivity and reduces absenteeism. Visit www.electrocorp.net for commercial and industrial air quality solutions.

Ozone levels have sizeable impact on worker productivity

Ozone pollution is a pervasive global issue with a wide range of opinion on acceptable levels. While policy makers agree that regulating ozone smog reduces hospitalizations and mortality rates, researchers at Columbia wanted to know if it also affects job performance.

They studied the impact of pollution on agricultural workers using daily variations in ozone levels. Their results show that the pollution had significant negative impacts on their productivity, even at levels below current air-quality standards in most parts of the world.

The researchers found that a 10 ppb (parts per billion) change in average ozone exposure results in a significant 5.5 percent change in agricultural worker productivity.

"These estimates are particularly noteworthy as the U.S. EPA is currently moving in the direction of reducing federal ground-level ozone standards," said study author Dr. Matthew Neidell, PhD.

President Obama has said he would not support a proposal by the EPA to tighten the federal ozone standard because it would pose too heavy a burden on businesses.

The study findings suggest that environmental protection is important for promoting economic growth and investing in human capital. This is the first study to examine the direct impact of pollution on worker productivity. It's published in the American Economic Review.

Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

VIDEO: Office air quality and possible health effects

Hundreds of thousands of people spend the majority of their days in an office environment.

Not everyone is lucky enough to work in a green, bright, healthy building - most offices are situated in older, less environmentally friendly structures.

Working in an office with poor indoor air quality can have an impact on the health, well-being and productivity of workers.

The IAQ Video Network and Cochrane and Associates have produced a new video about the dangers of indoor air pollution at the office to raise awareness:


The 3-minute video talks about common indoor air pollution sources as well as health effects.

Air cleaners for offices

Since it is often impossible for office workers to change an entire building's air quality, a room air purifier with the right filters can help provide cleaner and healthier air in their immediate surroundings.

Electrocorp has developed powerful air cleaners for the office that can tackle indoor air pollutants such as chemicals, volatile organic compounds, mold, bacteria, viruses, fine particles and allergens.

The air cleaners feature a complete multistage filtration system with a deep-bed activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter and optional UV germicidal filtration.

For large office printers and equipment, Electrocorp also offers air cleaners for office printers, which will capture irritating chemicals and particles at the exhaust with a custom-made intake hood to protect nearby workers from exposure.

For more information and a personalized consultation, please contact Electrocorp today.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.

EPA stresses a healthy environment in schools

Poor indoor air quality impacts students as well as
teachers and school staff, experts warn.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has long been a promoter of good indoor air quality in schools as well as greener administration practices, and helps schools make changes for the better with their Tools for Schools guidance.

In a recent webinar on Green Ribbon Schools (GRS), a US Department of Education project, experts demonstrated why indoor air quality is so important for a healthy school environment as well as for academic success.

Environmental health is one of the main pillars of GRS, and focuses on integrated pest management (employing healthier alternatives to pesticides), ventilation and contamination controls of indoor air pollutants such as chemicals, tobacco smoke, mold, radon and more.

IAQ often overlooked

According to the webinar experts, indoor air quality can affect the students, teachers’ and administrators’ health, comfort and ability to perform.

IAQ is a major component of the school’s physical environment that is the most easily overlooked, they said.
In schools, IAQ should always be a priority because children are more vulnerable to environmental pollution.

Indoor air pollution can cause or aggravate asthma.

They breathe more air than adults in relation to their body size and their immune systems and organs are still developing.

Health effects of poor IAQ can be immediate or long-term. For example, many indoor air pollutants can cause or trigger asthma, or aggravate the symptoms.

With one out of every 10 school children suffering from asthma, the missed school days also affect their overall performances.

Academic performance linked to IAQ

The experts cited scientific evidence that showed how improved indoor air quality increases productivity, the ability to concentrate and recall information and can reduce respiratory illnesses.

It can also save schools money, as better academic performances may mean increased funding for the district. A healthy school environment in a well-maintained school also means fewer costly, major repairs have to be done. Schools also have to spend less on substitute teachers, if there are fewer health-related absences.

The experts gave the following tips for schools:

• Change the HVAC filters regularly
• Fix water infiltration problems immediately to avoid mold and mildew
• Implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
• Keep rooms clean and free of clutter
• Store hazardous products safely
• Ban idling vehicles outside
• Use healthy cleaning agents and materials
• Conduct regular inspections

Source: EPA

Air cleaners for schools, daycares and universities

Children and staff need to be protected from indoor air pollutants. Aside from making the changes outlined above, learning institutions can use affordable and portable air cleaners to help provide cleaner and healthier air.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners for schools and universities feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter for chemicals, gases, odors and fumes, a HEPA filter for particles, dust and pollen, and optional UV germicidal filtration for biological contaminants such as mold, bacteria and viruses.

The air cleaners can be placed in individual classrooms, or they can be attached to existing HVAC systems.

For more information, contact Electrocorp at 1-866-667-0297.

How to create a healthy indoor environment at the workplace

Poor indoor air quality can affect workers' health
and productivity, studies show.

The indoor air in offices and other types of workplaces has long become a major concern to health officials – it exposes employees to many different pollutants and toxins that can affect health and well-being as well as working performance.

Indoor air pollution can come from

• Office equipment (e.g. printers)
• Building materials (paint, finishes, stain repellents)
• Personal care products and air fresheners
• Cleaning products
• Poor ventilation
• Poor air exchange
• Water damage (mold) or other indoor air quality problems

When a workplace exposes employees to poor indoor air quality, common complaints include headaches, sneezing, discomfort, lower productivity, respiratory conditions and other ailments.

Studies have confirmed that a healthier indoor environment can increase productivity and benefit a company’s bottom line.

There are certain things every workplace can do to provide a cleaner and healthier indoor environment:

1. Ban smoking indoors and close to the building
2. Make sure garbage is regularly and properly disposed of
3. Act quickly to fix water leaks and spills to avoid active mold growth
4. Use an air purifier – the best air purifiers contain activated carbon, HEPA and UV filtration technologies to remove the widest range of contaminants
5. Avoid clutter in the workplace for best circulation of air
6. Make sure fresh air can get inside the building
7. Get professional help if there is a serious indoor air quality problem

Source: Wamda

Air cleaners with carbon and HEPA filters

Air cleaners and air purifiers are invaluable tools when it comes to improving the air quality at the workplace.

Electrocorp specializes in air filtration systems for industrial and commercial applications and has developed portable as well as HVAC-compatible or wall-mountable air cleaners for the office, office printers, and air purifiers for facility management.

The air cleaners feature a large activated carbon filter for gaseous pollutants and odors, a HEPA filter for particles and optional UV germicidal filtration for pathogens.

Electrocorp also works with environmental consultants and other experts to solve indoor air quality concerns in all types of environments.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.
  

Top 5 tips to green up your office

A green office environment can save money and resources.

A leaner, cleaner and greener office can help the environment and a company’s bottom line.

Especially small businesses can make certain choices to “reduce, reuse and recycle” and thereby save money and resources.

Here are the top 5 easy-to-implement tips for a greener office:

1. Make recycling easy and effective
   Separate bins or containers for paper, waste and cans/bottles will make it easy for everyone at the office to recycle.
   Ink and toner cartridges should be recycled and some companies offer a pickup program,
    
2. Use less virgin paper and reuse old paper
   Most people realize that printing every e-mail or document they get is a waste of paper – with backup systems, e-mails are bound to remain in your inbox unless you delete them intentionally.
   Using recycled paper is much more environmentally friendly, and finding other uses for misprints and old papers can go a long way to green up your office. For example, some people staple old misprints and use them for notes. Others turn old papers into small stacks of papers for notes, telephone messages and other quick messages.
    
3. Use refillable, recycled or biodegradable pens
   A refillable pen means less plastic and metal waste. Buying in bulk can also make buying recycled pens possible – some companies offer pens made from 89% post-consumer waste like beverage bottles. Some companies offer pens that can land on the compost after a simple disassemble (since not all parts may be biodegradable).
    
4. Avoid paper handouts
   In meetings and for presentations, a lot more people are relying on electronic methods like a projector and PowerPoint, rather than bulky handouts. Company memos and other information can be sent out by e-mail as well.
    
5. Use less toxic cleaners in the office
   Conventional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals and fumes that can add to poor indoor air quality and lead to headaches and other possible health effects. Eco-friendly and non-toxic cleaning supplies are available that are not as strongly scented and won’t add more indoor air pollutants.

Source: The Toronto Star

A greener office can be a healthier office

Using less toxic products and materials can help improve the overall air quality in an office, which is often the reason for poor productivity, absenteeism and other problems like Sick Building Syndrome, for example.

Electrocorp also offers portable and very effective air cleaners for the office environment, which help keep the air clean and free of irritating pollutants.

Electrocorp's air cleaner for office printers.

The air cleaners feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs, for example from printing and toner cartridges, electronic equipment, treated textiles on office furniture, carpets, cleaning products), chemicals and odors, a HEPA filter to control dust, particles and pollen and optional UV germicidal filtration for the neutralization of bacteria, viruses and molds.

For offices with large printers and copying machines, Electrocorp has also designed air cleaners for office printers that feature customized intake hood for the removal of chemicals and particles right at the machine’s exhaust.

For more information, contact Electrocorp today!
 

Going green helps companies earn more ‘green’: Study

Greener buildings can make workers more productive
and help a company's bottom line.

A University of Notre Dame study shows that bank branches using LEED-certified buildings increases their revenues even if they offer the same products and services than other branches.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is awarded to certain buildings that have been built or renovated with energy efficiency and good indoor air quality in mind.

The five main categories are Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.

In their study, the researchers looked at 562 PNC branches (93 LEED, 469 non-LEED) and found that employees working in LEED-certified branches were more productive and engaged in their work.

This translated into big bucks for the branches: The study authors determined that sustainability equaled about $461,300 more per employee after controlling for other variables that influence performance.

This mirrors what many companies have been experiencing in the recent past: A high environmental and social impact can be maintained while achieving revenue and job growth.

In terms of the bank in the study, going green seems to work, whether it’s because the buildings look better or the people working there are more fulfilled and thus providing better services.

Source: University of Notre Dame

Good indoor air quality can improve productivity

Numerous studies have highlighted the benefits of good indoor air quality on a company’s bottom line. While LEED-certification may not be possible to attain right away, companies can do other things to improve their indoor air quality and worker satisfaction.

1. Source control: Companies can opt for products, furnishings and other materials that are more natural and environmentally friendly and won’t add any pollutants to the ambient air. For example, glass desks or untreated office furniture won't emit VOCs and other toxins.
    
2. Ventilation: Companies can make sure that existing ventilation systems are well maintained and that the filters are replaced regularly.
    
3. Air cleaning: Using portable air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA can help keep the air clean and much healthier. These air cleaners work around the clock to remove airborne chemicals, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold. 

Electrocorp offers high-quality air cleaners for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including

• Offices
• Schools and Universities
• Libraries and Archives
• Hospitals and health care settings
• Beauty Salons and Spas

Contact Electrocorp for more information and more options.
 

Allergies at work – how to control symptoms

Allergies can lead to poor productivity
and missed work days, experts say.

Allergies are on the rise, and economists are warning about the impact they have on a company’s bottom line.

A study published in Current Research and Opinion reported that about 55 percent of employees experienced hay fever symptoms for an average of 52.5 days and they missed an average of 3.6 days per year because of their allergies.

During the allergy seasons, they could be unproductive for about 2.3 hours per workday because of their symptoms.

A different study, published in the American Journal of Managed Care, estimated that allergies cost companies more than $601 million in total lost productivity each year.

Lost productivity and missed work days were common when it came to allergies because the symptoms could be pretty rough on workers.

Beside sniffling and sneezing (which workers might have been able to ignore), many employees suffer from sore throats, headaches, sinus infections, itchy eyes, fatigue and general malaise.

According to allergists, many workers could treat their allergies more aggressively to prevent these symptoms from interfering with their work.

Treatment possibilities include

• Begin taking medications earlier: Instead of waiting for allergy symptoms to become almost unbearable, taking allergy medications earlier can help prevent complications. Earlier means a few weeks before allergy season starts.
    
• Stick with your meds: Some medications (like nasal sprays) take up to five days to be effective, so stopping after a few days won’t do. Ask your health care provider if nothing seems to be working.
    
• Don’t forget nights: A good night’s sleep is important for productivity and well-being. Experts suggest taking an antihistamine at night. Opt for one that can make you drowsy.
    
• Keep eye drops handy: Prescription antihistamine eye drops can help control symptoms when you first feel an itch coming on.
    
• Use an air purifier to control airborne allergens and pollen: Keeping an air purifier with a HEPA filter in the bedroom and at work can help control exposure to allergens and other pollutants.

Source: Fox News

Air cleaners for the office and home

Electrocorp offers highly efficient and portable air purifiers for those suffering from allergies and asthma.

They can be used in the office or at home and they provide maximum particle and allergen control with the best HEPA filters as well as deep-bed activated carbon filters and other filters to remove pollutants that might cause or aggravate allergic symptoms.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.

Productivity suffers from poor air quality at the workplace: Experts

Poor IAQ at work can hamper productivity, experts say.

Poor indoor air quality at work is a widespread phenomenon and may have a detrimental impact on the economy, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) says.

Indoor air pollution can affect workers’ health, they say, which in turn hampers productivity and absenteeism.

PAHO is set to visit Antigua & Barbuda early next year to help the Ministry of Health raise awareness about poor indoor air quality.

The building that houses the Ministry of Health is among the IAQ-challenged buildings. It has been identified as having asbestos in the roofing and other health and safety concerns.

The employees continue using the building on a half-day basis.

The organization hopes to address various IAQ issues at the workplace, including asbestos and other hazardous substances, air monitoring, cleaning agents and more.

Source: Daily Observer 
 
Take care of workplace air

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the quality of indoor air inside offices, schools, and other workplaces is important not only for workers' comfort but also for their health.

Workers exposed to poor IAQ may experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lung, OSHA says, and the problems can come from many different areas.

Ways to control indoor air quality issues include good building maintenance, regular cleaning (without harsh chemicals), ventilation and air cleaning.

The industrial-strength air cleaners from Electrocorp are user-friendly, powerful and versatile. They feature an activated carbon + HEPA filter combination to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including many chemicals and gases, particles and dust, bacteria and viruses or mold.

For more information, contact Electrocorp.
  

Companies benefit from green buildings and better IAQ

Workers often complain about office
temperature and air quality.

While workers’ productivity and satisfaction depend on a variety of factors, one important aspect is indoor air quality, experts say.

Green buildings that offer improved indoor air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, views and acoustics can have a positive effect on worker health and well-being, morale, comfort and productivity, a growing number of studies show.

Companies, in turn, can save money on sick leaves, absenteeism, replacement training, overtime pay, compensation and other costs.

A case study done by Sustainability Victoria and the Kador Group in 2005-2006, examining a green retrofit and the effects on the workers showed that there was:

• A 44 percent reduction in the monthly average cost of sick leave
• A 9 percent improvement in the average typing speed of secretaries and notciable improvement in overall accuracy
• Up to 20 percent reduced incidence of headaches among workers and improvements in colds and flu, sore eyes, fatigue and concentration issues
• A 12 percent rise in self-reported productivity

According to a March 2010 British study of 10,000 property and construction professionals, more than half (55 percent) complained about the office temperature and 45 percent were unhappy with the ventilation or air quality.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Improve IAQ at the workplace

Electrocorp specializes in a variety of versatile air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications.

The air cleaners can be stand-alone, plug-and-play units, they can be attached to the HVAC system or they can be mounted to the ceiling.

They remove a wide range of indoor air contaminants commonly found in offices and workplaces, including chemicals, odors, gases, fumes, particles, bacteria, viruses and molds. Find out more about the activated carbon + HEPA filtration system.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and customizable solutions.

Poor IAQ a drain on company’s time and money

Poor IAQ at the workplace can be
detrimental to workers and the
company's bottom line.

Poor indoor air quality can have a profound effect on a company’s bottom line – and it’s time for management to step up and protect workers from indoor air pollutants, activists say.

A new initiative launched by the Campaign for Clean Air in London highlights the financial and health implications of poor IAQ and suggests solutions that can easily be implemented, according to an article online from Business Green.

One of the main recommendations is a high-quality filtration system, which can help remove up to 90 percent of indoor air contaminants for up to 90 percent of the time, the campaign founder says.

And while London's air quality is known to be poor in general, the dangers of poor IAQ affect workers worldwide.

Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality, often caused by humidity issues and mold infestations, poor ventilation, off-gassing building materials, equipment and furniture as well as cleaning agents and scented products, can affect the health and productivity of employees and cost the company a lot of money.

Portable air cleaners a cost-effective and simple solution

A good air filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA filters will remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants from the ambient air.

Portable air cleaners: RAPs

Electrocorp has developed an extensive product line of industrial air cleaners for various commercial applications, which feature the powerful multi-stage filtration system and which can be customized according to a client’s IAQ concern, space, budget and other requirements.

The air cleaners are either portable, plug-and-go units with a small footprint, or they can be hung from the ceiling or wall or attached to existing ventilation and HVAC systems. The air cleaners are designed for around-the-clock operation to clean the air continuously, with low energy consumption.

Indoor air management is an important objective for companies – and the right air filtration system is key to improved air quality.

Contact one of Electrocorp’s IAQ experts for more information.
  

OSHA warns of poor indoor air quality in commercial buildings

IAQ in office buildings and public institutions
should become a priority, report says.

In a new guidance document for building managers, owners and employers,  the Occupational Safety and Health Administration calls indoor air quality (IAQ) “a major concern” because it can impact the health, comfort, well-being and productivity of building occupants and employees.

For many office workers, city high-rises and large offices that accommodate many workers have become the norm.

Workers typically spend 40 hours or more a week in these office buildings.


The indoor air quality in commercial and institutional buildings is dependent on the following factors:

• The building’s original design
• Location
• Renovations
• Ventilation (HVAC system)
• Maintenance of the building envelope and HVAC systems

While the reasons for poor IAQ may vary, but the OSHA document names overcrowding, dampness (mold), and internally generated pollutants from building materials, cleaning products and mechanical equipment such as office printers as common sources.


Health effects of poor indoor air quality

Many workers can be affected by poor IAQ, depending on their immune system and levels of exposure.

Symptoms may include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness, rashes, muscle pain, fatigue, aggravated asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Bad IAQ has also been linked to respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer.

Apart from short-term and long-term health effects, poor indoor air quality can also affect worker productivity and lead to costly repairs or other expenses.

That is why OSHA recommends a proactive approach to address IAQ concerns and to put measures in place that will prevent problems or make it easier to deal with problems if and when they occur. This may help employers save costs, increase operating efficiency and improve worker productivity.

For a complete guide to proactive IAQ management in commercial buildings and institutions, read the OSHA report.


Improve IAQ instantly with portable air cleaners

Ink fumes from office printers may irritate
workers and contribute to poor IAQ.

While it is important to maintain existing HVAC systems, often they simply do not provide enough ventilation and airflow, especially in large or overcrowded offices. In addition, the fumes from printers and electronic equipment may affect workers nearby.

Electrocorp offers specialized air cleaners to improve the indoor air quality in offices and commercial buildings quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

Electrocorp’s product line includes portable air cleaners such as the RAP and RSU Series, the Numerical Series for smaller offices, the PrintSafe air purifier with source capture for printers, the I-6500 Series for larger spaces and a variety of other products to provide cleaner air instantly.

Electrocorp's PrintSafe
for office printers.

The reliable air cleaners are designed to work around-the-clock and require very little maintenance.

Electrocorp’s air filters are so effective because they incorporate a deep-bed activated carbon filter as well as a HEPA filter for the removal of chemicals, particles, mold mycotoxins, odors and other irritants.

Many Electrocorp air filters can also accommodate a UV lamp to neutralize biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold spores (mycotoxins).

Contact one of Electrocorp’s air quality experts for more information: 1-866-667-0297.
 

Simple steps to improve indoor air quality in the workplace

Many offices and other workplaces can
expose employees to harmful pollutants.

The air quality in the workplace – be it an office with many printers, computers and other electronic equipment, a factory or any other enclosed space – plays a crucial role when it comes to workers’ productivity and absenteeism as well as morale.

EPA studies show that indoor air pollution levels can routinely be up to five times higher than those found outdoors as a result of contaminants from tracked-in soil, chemical-laden cleaning products, inefficient or unmaintained heating and cooling systems, etc.

In the short-term, poor indoor air quality can cause sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throats, and fatigue. Over the long-term, however, medical authorities say it can contribute to asthma, lung disease, cancer, and even damage to the neurological system.

Here are simple steps to improve the air quality in the workplace:

1. Be aware of the risks and different sources of indoor air pollutants. The more you know about the dangers of chemical exposure (even at low levels), particle inhalation and mold growth, the quicker you can act to avoid health problems later on.
   
2. Have furnaces, heating and cooling equipment cleaned periodically to prevent gas build-up or discharge; regularly replace filters to help avoid harmful particles from circulating throughout the place of work.
   
3. Use advanced filtration technologies such as activated carbon, HEPA and UV to remove and/or eliminate the widest range of indoor air pollutants (including chemicals, gases, particles, viruses, bacteria, allergens and mold spores). Opt for a free-standing, portable air purifier that can help improve indoor air quality at the fraction of the price it would take to fix up the ventilation system. The most effective air purifiers feature many pounds of activated carbon, advanced airflow design, the best particle filters and other options.
   
4. Remove the source of pollutants (if possible). For example, make sure no harsh chemicals are used to clean the workplace. When renovating, low-VOC products should be used. Ventilation needs to be adequate and EPA also says that air cleaning can be a useful adjunct to source control and ventilation.
   
5. Place "scraper" floor mats outside entranceways to remove soiling from shoes, and place walk-off carpeted mats just inside entrances to capture any residual particulates. All mats should be cleaned regularly to ensure their effectiveness.
   
6. Mop floors after vacuuming to remove any contaminants left behind. Technologically advanced microfiber mops and dusting cloths, in particular, can capture more soiling than traditional cotton products…and without the use of potentially harmful cleaning solutions. An EPA study conducted for the healthcare industry found that microfiber cleaning can remove up to 98% of contaminants from surfaces using only water.
   
7. Regularly use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to help eliminate common allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. Dander, for example, clings to clothing and can be easily spread.
   
8. Use a dehumidifier and an air conditioner to keep indoor humidity in the 30-50% range — a level that helps keep mold, dust mites, and other allergens at bay.

Many office buildings suffer from poor indoor air quality that can affect workers negatively. EPA uses the term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.

The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term "building related illness" (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

Improve the Workspace to Increase Productivity

It’s no secret that happier employees affect a company’s profitability. In fact a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, reported job satisfaction had a direct impact on an employee’s commitment to an organization and turnover rates. Improving how your employees perceive their physical surrounds can actually go a long way towards increasing productivity and job satisfaction. Here are a few tips to consider when looking boost productivity without breaking your budget:

Upgrade your lighting

Experts agree that lighting upgrades can not only save money but have a significant impact on productivity and satisfaction. One study by the Light Right Consortium discovered that people who are more satisfied with their lighting rate the space as more attractive, are happier, and are more comfortable and satisfied with their environment and their work. 

Allow workers to personalize their space

Employees (particularly the much discussed Millennial generation) want to enjoy their work and their workplace. Encouraging employees to personalize their space is a simple, no-investment strategy to make workers feel like they’re more than just another cog in the wheel. An employee who feels more comfortable  in their workspace, is an employee that will be happier and more productive.

Clear the air 

The World Health Organization, EPA and numerous other organizations have all shown that cleaner office air can actually reduce employee absenteeism and improve productivity. The challenge is how to tackle the issue in air-tight buildings that constantly recirculate polluted indoor air. One suggestion is installing a number of high quality room air cleaners that remove a wider range of pollutants including chemicals, odors and particles. These easy to use air cleaners will not only provide fresher, cleaner air, but act as a visual reminder to your commitment to workplace health and safety. 

Interested in learning more about improving workplace air quality? Contact an air quality expert today for a free assessment 1-866-667-0297 or visit our website to start a live chat session.