Ventilation in the workplace – As humans being, oxygen is one of the most important needs for our survival. While we perform duties in our various places a lot of factors may contribute to employees being deprived of fresh air. These hazards include fumes, toxics, body heat, dust, bacteria or germs, to mention but a few, that are either emitted by bodies or are a result of the nature of their jobs. For this cause, it is essential that workplaces are equipped with proper ventilation and that a risk assessment is conducted to establish if the right ventilation is used for the right workplace.
Ventilation is the the exchange of air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. The importance of ventilation is that, it controls temperatures; replenish oxygen, removes moisture, odours, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide. Methods for ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical/forced and natural types.
A risk assessment should focus on the nature of the work being conducted in the workplace as they are different suitable ventilations for different premises that conduct different natures of work. This will ensure that the right risks are identified and the right ventilation system is suggested to the company.
In less vigorous workplaces such as offices, most companies tend to use ceiling fans and table/floor fans as a means of ventilation for the purpose of reducing the perceived temperature because of evaporation of perspiration on the skin of the occupants. A risk assessment should determine if these fans are working in a safe manner. Plugs and sockets should be inspected to ensure that they are free of defects that may contribute to hazards. The cables should also be well ventilated to prevent electrocution of the users. Floor and table fans are usually supplied with a guard to prevent the rotating components from flying off in case they break and injuring employees around. A risk assessment should ensure that such guards are available and they are firmly in place.
Huge companies whose facilities are used by many people usually make use of Demand-controlled ventilation as the ventilation system makes it possible to maintain air quality while conserving energy. Because it is an electrical system of control, a risk assessment should determine if the gadgets are in a proper working condition. The system should be maintained regularly so as to clear the ducts of any blockages to ensure sufficient air circulate all the time.
Kitchens and bathrooms typically have mechanical exhaust to control odours and sometimes humidity. Kitchens have additional problems to deal with such as smoke and grease. A risk assessment should inspect the flow rate of air if it is of acceptable levels. Furthermore fans, exhaust vent size and noise levels should be inspected hence; a practical assessment should be conducted. The ducting for such ventilation should be insulated to prevent condensation on the ducting. Fans that produce high noise levels can contribute to hearing loss problems and if they are improperly functioning employees can be subjected to inhaling dangerous fumes and odours which may contribute to lung infections and problems.
One of the most recommended means of ventilation especially for offices is the use of natural ventilation. This can be in the means of opening a window or door. A risk assessment should however, be conducted to determine the safety of employees if they work with open doors and windows. Also, an assessor should establish if the chosen means of natural ventilation is enough to ventilate the entire space, if not areas further from the window or door should be provided with extra ventilation.
All ventilation components should be cleaned and disinfected to kill germs and bacteria which spread diseases. Be it fans, doors, ducts, windows, hygiene should be prioritized especially for components that are touched by many people.
Companies should first assess the nature of their job so that they choose the right ventilation for their workplaces. Some companies have dangerous working environments that involve toxics while some have less risky working places. All workplaces should be equipped with ventilation but it is only the right ventilation that will serve its purpose and stop a lot of incidents and diseases associated with poor ventilation.
Proper ventilation means increased productivity as employees are upbeat as they work in favourable conditions.
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