Clean Air Day 2024
Is industry falling asleep at the wheel of indoor air quality?
Welding Extraction
Clean Air Day is 20th June this year and marks the UK’s largest air pollution campaign. Air pollution is linked to 43,000 deaths per year in the UK. The World Health Organization and the UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health.
With 90% of our time spent indoors there’s been a marked shift change in the attention industry is giving to air pollutants and contaminants in the workplace or ‘indoor air quality’ as well as outdoor air pollution.
There’s tangible evidence of a direct link between improved outdoor air quality and economic benefits, so has industry thusfar been falling asleep at the wheel of indoor air quality whilst focussing on reducing outdoor emissions?
Business and political agendas have rightly focused on improving outdoor air quality to reduce environmental impact and improve the physical health and well-being of our population. The implementation of ‘clean air zones’ in cities has highlighted the health and financial business gains of improved outdoor air quality.
In 2020 CBI Economics, in partnership with the Clean Air Fund, conducted a study which found that reduced outdoor air pollution could yield £1.6billion in economic benefit to the UK economy every year by following WHO guidelines. 3 million working days gained and 17000 deaths prevented. The study used 8 cities implementing the CAZ (clean air zone) scheme, with London forecast an economic benefit of £500million a year.
However, this economic benefit related only to outdoor air quality. In reality the largest proprotion of our lives is spent indoors. Several years on from the Covid-era, the pandemic played a significant part in our consciousness of airborne particulates. It demonstrated a direct link between human health and the health of a global economy. Given the numbers and economics at stake, taking care of our indoor air quality is now being given a greater focus.
Production and the economic success of any business relies on labour (employees) and capital (buildings and machinery). Health maintenance of both these production factors can have a significant impact on any business and reduces energy consumption and overheads.
Regular maintenance of dust and fume extraction and ventilation systems reduces the cost of repairs and the efficiency and lifespan of machinery and buildings
For employees, improved indoor air quality increases cognitive function, reduces absences due to sickness and lowers morbidity rates. For these reasons alone it should be high on any businesses’ economic agenda.
20 years ago, businesses paid lip service to emissions and energy reduction, because it was the ‘right thing to do’. Today it’s embedded into production processes of every global business because the long-term health, environmental and economic benefits are better understood. The same shift-change is now upon us as we reflect on indoor air quality.
Whilst some industry sectors are already ahead of the curve and seeing a return on their investment, others have yet to go beyond the mandatory HSE led requirements.
Simple maintenance of ventilation and extraction systems go a long way to improving the productivity and welfare of ‘labour and capital’. Advanced thinking embraces intelligent technology that reduces costs further by adding energy saving devices to LEV systems. Smart collection and filtration systems look to capture particulates to also maintain outdoor air quality.
This year Clean Air Day falls on June 20th. It’s an opportunity for businesses to celebrate their commitment to air quality and to put both outdoor and indoor air quality on the business agenda.