Are allergens in your office space impacting employee health and productivity?
Proven Strategies to Reduce Allergens in Office Spaces
Maintaining a clean office environment is crucial for reducing allergens, which can impact employee health and productivity by causing allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and overall discomfort.
Impact of Allergens on Employee Health and Productivity:
- Health Issues: Allergens can cause sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and more severe respiratory problems.
- Discomfort: Persistent allergy symptoms lead to discomfort and distraction.
- Reduced Concentration: Allergies can impair focus and cognitive function.
- Increased Sick Leave: Allergens contribute to higher absenteeism due to illness.
- Lower Productivity: Overall workplace productivity declines as a result of these factors.
- Decreased Morale: Chronic health issues can reduce employee morale and job satisfaction.
Implement Air Cleaners and Allergen-Proof Mattress Covers
Effectiveness of Air Cleaners in Improving Indoor Air Quality:
- Air cleaners, especially those equipped with HEPA filters, can effectively remove airborne allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander.
- By continuously filtering the air, these devices help maintain a cleaner and healthier indoor environment.
Role of Allergen-Proof Mattress Covers in Reducing Airborne Particles:
- Allergen-proof mattress covers prevent dust mites and other allergens from accumulating in bedding.
- By encasing mattresses and pillows, these covers create a barrier that reduces the spread of allergens into the air, contributing to improved indoor air quality.
Regular and High-Efficiency Vacuuming
Importance of Using High-Efficiency Vacuum Cleaners:
- High-efficiency vacuum cleaners, particularly those with HEPA filters, can trap small particles and allergens that standard vacuums may miss.
- Regular use of these vacuums helps to significantly reduce the overall allergen levels in office spaces, maintaining a healthier environment for employees.
Specific Strategies:
- Combine Vacuuming with Mechanical Ventilation: Enhance the effectiveness of vacuuming by using mechanical ventilation systems to improve air circulation and remove airborne particles.
- Frequent Cleaning: Establish a regular vacuuming schedule to ensure consistent removal of dust and allergens from carpets, rugs, and upholstery.
Focus on High-Traffic Areas: Pay special attention to areas with heavy foot traffic, as they tend to accumulate more dirt and allergens.
Utilize Dry Steam Cleaning
How Dry Steam Cleaning Works to Reduce Allergens:
- Dry steam cleaning uses high-temperature steam to penetrate deep into carpets and upholstery, effectively killing dust mites, bacteria, and mold spores.
- The process leaves minimal moisture behind, which helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew, further reducing allergen levels.
Effectiveness on Carpets and Upholstered Furniture:
- Dry steam cleaning is particularly effective at removing allergens from carpets and upholstered furniture, areas where dust mites and other allergens tend to accumulate.
- The deep-cleaning action ensures that allergens are not just removed from the surface but also from the deeper layers of the fabric, providing long-lasting relief from allergen exposure.
Electrostatic Dust Removal Techniques
Innovative Electrostatic Sprays and Powders:
- Electrostatic sprays and powders are designed to attract and capture dust particles through static electricity.
- These products can be applied to surfaces, causing dust and allergens to cling to them, making it easier to remove the particles during cleaning.
Enhancing Removal of Airborne and Carpet Dust Allergens:
- By using electrostatic sprays and powders, dust and allergens are more effectively collected from both the air and surfaces, reducing their presence in the office environment.
- This method improves the efficiency of regular cleaning routines, ensuring that even fine particles are captured and removed, contributing to a cleaner and healthier workspace.
Use Allergen Encasements for Bedding
Benefits of Using Microfine Fiber Covers for Bedding:
- Microfine fiber covers are specially designed to prevent allergens like dust mites from penetrating the fabric.
- These covers are breathable and comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep while protecting against allergens.
How Encasements Reduce Exposure to Dust Mite Allergens:
- Encasements act as a barrier, trapping dust mites inside the mattress and pillows and preventing them from coming into contact with the sleeper.
- By sealing off these common breeding grounds, encasements significantly reduce the amount of dust mite allergens released into the air, helping to manage and alleviate respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals.
References
- van der Heide, S., Kauffman, H. F., Dubois, A. E., & de Monchy, J. G. (1997). Allergen reduction measures in houses of allergic asthmatic patients: effects of air-cleaners and allergen-impermeable mattress covers. The European Respiratory Journal, 10(6), 1217–1223. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.97.10061217
- Warner, J. A., Frederick, J. M., Bryant, T. N., Weich, C., Raw, G. J., Hunter, C., Stephend, F. R., McIntyre, D. A., & Warner, J. O. (2000). Mechanical ventilation and high-efficiency vacuum cleaning: A combined strategy of mite and mite allergen reduction in the control of mite-sensitive asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 105(1), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0091-6749(00)90181-7
- Vojta, P. J., Randels, S. P., Stout, J., Muilenberg, M., Burge, H. A., Lynn, H., Mitchell, H., O’Connor, G. T., & Zeldin, D. C. (2001). Effects of physical interventions on house dust mite allergen levels in carpet, bed, and upholstery dust in low-income, urban homes. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(8), 815–819. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.01109815
- Gaunt, L. F., Jerrim, K. L., & Hughes, J. F. (2003). Electrostatic control of domestic dust and allergen particles for improved air quality. Powder Technology, 135-136, 354–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2003.08.024
- Tsurikisawa, N., Saito, A., Chiyako Oshikata, Nakazawa, T., Hiroshi Yasueda, & Akiyama, K. (2013). Encasing bedding in covers made of microfine fibers reduces exposure to house mite allergens and improves disease management in adult atopic asthmatics. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology/Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1710-1492-9-44
Takeaway
Key Strategies:
- Implement air cleaners and allergen-proof mattress covers.
- Use high-efficiency vacuum cleaners regularly and combine with mechanical ventilation.
- Utilize dry steam cleaning for deep cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture.
- Apply electrostatic dust removal techniques with innovative sprays and powders.
- Use allergen encasements for bedding to reduce dust mite exposure.
The Importance of a Comprehensive Approach:
Combining these methods ensures a more effective reduction of allergens, providing a cleaner and healthier office environment.
Each strategy targets different sources and types of allergens, making the overall approach more robust and efficient.
Why Implement:
Facility managers should adopt these strategies to create a healthier work environment, enhancing employee well-being and productivity.
Implementing a comprehensive allergen reduction plan not only improves air quality but also fosters a more comfortable and productive workspace for all employees.
Vanguard Cleaning Systems® of the Ozarks' franchise-owned custodial service provider business cleans more than 8M sq. ft. weekly, maintaining an industry topping 95+% of its customer base, year-over-year, and boasting more than 60 5-star Google reviews.
Need more capability from your vendor partners? --Let's talk.
In Oklahoma, dial 918-960-4450
In Arkansas, dial 479-717-2410
In Missouri, dial 417-812-9777
