Only 29% of American and Canadian Workers Describe the Indoor Air at Their Workplace as Very Clean

A recent survey revealed that only 29% of respondents rated their workplace air quality as “very clean,” a decline from 36% in 2022. However, 91% of respondents believed that clean air should be a fundamental right for all workers, emphasizing the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) in enhancing productivity and cognition. The majority of respondents (89%) reported that clean indoor air helps them perform their best at work, a trend supported by research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Poor IAQ was identified by 35% of respondents who reported stagnant air or inadequate circulation, 33% who reported high humidity levels, 25% who reported mold, stains, dust, and airborne particulates, and 25% who reported perceptible odours. Both U.S. and Canadian workers prioritize a clean workspace over conventional workplace perks, ranking it as their top preference for workplace enhancements.

Around 31% of respondents stated they would consider leaving their employment due to concerns associated with poor indoor air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that cleaner indoor air should be a critical focus for businesses on International Day of Clean Air. Employers investing in air purification with HEPA filters, upgraded HVAC systems, and improved ventilation can protect workers from airborne viruses, bacteria, pollution, allergens, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

However, only 37% of surveyed workers reported that their employer had made IAQ improvements in the last year. The top change noticed among employers was the addition of air purifiers (59% of respondents who noticed an employer’s IAQ improvement).

The increasing public demand for improved IAQ has led to the release of the first-ever standard for controlling infectious aerosols and maintaining healthy indoor air quality by ASHRAE in June. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control also encourages the use of HVAC systems with MERV-13 filtration or better, as well as HEPA air purification systems, to maximize air cleanliness.

Source: Cision New Wire