Combating Sick Building Syndrome | Ventilation Services
According to a report by The Office for National Statistics the number of sick days taken by British workers in 2017 was 4.1 days. And the most common reason for time off were coughs and colds.
Open plan offices are a breeding ground for germs, spread not only by sharing telephones and computer keyboards, but by air ducting, ventilation and air conditioning systems, which aren’t properly maintained.
But companies who don’t regularly have their ventilation systems cleaned could be breaking the law.
Calling in a professional company for duct cleaning isn’t just a legal requirement under Section 6 of the Health & Safety Executive at Work act, but it will also boost attendance and offer employees a more pleasant working environment. Guidance on the cleaning of heating, ventilating and air conditioning can be found in the HVAC Guide to Good Practice TR19.
Polluted air can cause a variety of symptoms, and offices effected are commonly known as suffering from Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Workers can
complain of headaches, fatigue, loss of concentration, eye and throat irritation, shortness of breath, skin rashes, dry skin and itchy skin.
It’s not clear exactly what causes SBS but it’s thought to be a combination of things including:
· Poor ventilation
· Poorly maintained air conditioning systems
· Dust, smoke, fumes or fibres in the air
· Bright or flickering lights
It’s usually a problem in large open plan offices with lots of people, but it can have a negative impact on employees working in any size of office. People’s symptoms tend to increase with the more time they spend in an office with SBS, and improve when they are away from the building.
So calling in a professional duct cleaning company is vital, not only for staff and visitors, but for a company’s productivity and turn over.
A professional duct cleaning company will initially carry out a full inspection and then, using skilled technicians with state- of- the art equipment, will carry out any required maintenance. Once cleaned, the whole ventilation system will be treated with a disinfectant solution.
The benefits of professional duct cleaning and continued maintenance for any office space includes:
- Improved air quality: Promotes attendance, productivity and wellbeing.
- A cleaner, healthier working environment: Removes dust, bacteria, mould and allergens.
- Long term energy savings: Clean ducting is more efficient and will save on costs in the long term.
- Manage fire risks: A clean and maintained system is safer with fewer risks.
With over 60 branches around the UK, and a branch within 21 miles of every postcode, there’s bound to be one near you. To arrange your office duct cleaning, call us now on 01623 422488. Rainbow Restoration https://rainbowrestoration.co.uk/