Welp MagazineWhile many air purifiers will usually have high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters as one of their features, this is also a mechanical air filter. In essence, it works by using a fine mesh to catch and trap smoke, pet dander, pollen, and dust mites, preventing them from circulating throughout the air.
While it’s only been recently that HEPA filters from AirFixture and other reputable brands have become quite popular, they’ve been around for quite some time now. Using HEPA filters in the office is more than just a trend or hype. As technology brings in more advanced versions, offices (and households) are investing in this machine.
Among all the benefits it brings, some of the most compelling are those concerning how it may increase productivity. Here’s how:
1. It May Relieve Asthma Symptoms
It’s not uncommon to have employees who have asthma, given how asthma is quite a common respiratory illness, even for adults. People living with asthma have inflamed bronchial tubes. With this, pollutants can enter their airways and leave them irritated. This is why those who have asthma may also have difficulty breathing.
Vacuuming the office floors regularly can help get rid of pollen and dust particles. But those can also get stuck in the air. When employees who are diagnosed with asthma breathe these particles, the likelihood of asthma attacks increases.
The danger with this is that productivity then suffers when employees get sick. No business wants a high rate of employee absenteeism in its ranks. Moreover, asthma attacks can be serious and life-threatening in severe cases, so you’re not just seeing a day or two of absence. Some may even go as long as a week.
2. It Neutralizes Air Contaminants
Indeed, no employee will ever want to stay in an office for eight hours working in an office that feels as dirty as it looks. Of course, it’s normal for individuals to get sick once in a while. Or you might get someone to call in sick due to a cold or the flu. But if this is getting quite frequent and common in your workplace, then that could be a sign that your workplace is quite dirty.
A HEPA filter may be what you need to neutralize some of the common air contaminants. These contaminants are volatile organic compounds from printers, viruses, pollen, bacteria, smoke smells, allergens, dust mites, mold, and mildew. The cleaner your office is, the better the employee’s health and wellness are.
In turn, when employees feel that their wellness is valued, they may also be more satisfied with the company they work for. They feel comfortable and at home. Those positive emotions may lead to employees having that higher aptitude to do more for the company that values their health.
3. It Cleanses The Air Of Unpleasant Odors
Imagine yourself sitting behind your desk, trying to focus on a task at hand and then failing because the room smells so bad. Once employees start to lose their focus, their productivity suffers as well. This fact is especially evident in offices where the nature of the business has products and services that give off a strong odor.
For example, paint in automotive companies can have a lingering smell the entire day. Or, if you’re working in a printing shop, there’s the smell of printer ink. Other odors can include those coming from aerosol sprays and newly-painted furniture.
Employees who stay too long in offices with strong odors are prone to headaches. The last thing you want is for employees to lose focus. So it’s not just their productivity that suffers, but even the quality of the work they do, too.
4. It May Help Prevent The Spread Of Airborne Diseases
Imagine all the viruses and bacteria that can spread when one employee sneezes in an office full of otherwise healthy employees. They may cover their mouth, but once there’s one sick with an airborne illness, the likelihood of spreading the same from one employee to another is very high.
You can prevent the spread of diseases in the workplace when the air is clean. No one has to deal with co-workers constantly sneezing. And for those who are sick, the effects on productivity are even worse. Like nasty smells, they can lose focus due to the discomfort from an itchy and runny nose.
Conclusion
Because of the many benefits of a HEPA filter, many companies have now considered getting one for their offices. It’s a type of workplace improvement that most people prioritize now, given the need for clean workspaces. Beyond productivity, it’s also about maintaining good employee health and wellness. Choose a good-quality one, so your office can enjoy a good return on investment in employee productivity.
