Air Quality Health and & Safety Inspections

The workplace is, for most people, where they spend the majority of their week. In fact, the average person will spend a third of their life at work. People remain in the same building, or even the same room, for hours at a time, so it’s important that the air in that room is safe and of good quality. Employers have a duty of care to their employees to ensure good air quality in the workplace. This means carrying out essential health and safety inspections.

Why Is Good Air Quality So Important?

For somewhere where people spend so much time, the air quality must be of a certain standard to prevent health problems. However, this often isn’t the case. In warehouses and production facilities, in particular, the air can be polluted with harmful particles and emissions that are not visible to the naked eye. Indoor air quality can make or break employees’ health, with dust and pollution up to 5 times higher than outdoor air. It is the responsibility of the employer to monitor air quality and ensure the necessary action is taken to improve it.

Access to sufficient fresh air is essential for:

Better health
Concentration
Reduced work absences
Better sleep
Higher workplace satisfaction

Potential Health Risks of Poor Air Quality

Poor air quality can have a detrimental effect on respiratory health and key organs in the body, as well as the eyes, nose, and throat. New data gathered by Public Health England has found evidence that air pollution also has a negative impact on brain health. Particularly for those who suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma, poor air quality can have a detrimental impact on health.

Potential symptoms of air pollution are most commonly coughing and shortness of breath, however, prolonged exposure can result in heart attacks, cancer, and even dementia later in life. It is estimated that air pollution contributes to 28,000-36,000 deaths in the UK each year.

Common Workplace Air Pollutants

When it comes to the causes of air pollution in the workplace, there are some common offenders. Each of these pollutants has the potential to cause harm to employees if they are exposed to them:

Dust & particulate matter - these are tiny particles or fibres that float in the air when surfaces are disturbed. This can be dust or even more harmful particles such as asbestos fibres.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) - these are vaporous substances that are emitted from paints, cleaning chemicals and adhesives etc.
Nitrogen - although this gas makes up 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, excess nitrogen can lead to breathing problems.
Mould - humid or poorly ventilated indoor spaces are the perfect breeding ground for this potentially fatal fungus.
Sulphur dioxide - this gas is produced when burning fossil fuels and smelting metal and is known to contribute to breathing difficulties.

What Are the Current Internal Air Quality Regulations?

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 outline that it is the responsibility of the employer to show a duty of care toward that staff, providing them with a safe and healthy work environment. Workplace (Health, safety and Welfare) Regulations state that indoor air quality should be better than, or at least equal to, external air quality.

In order to determine the quality of your workplace’s air, you must carry out a comprehensive air quality assessment. This should involve the collection of air samples from various areas within and surrounding the building structure. Swabs should also be taken from surfaces within the building and these samples will then be evaluated. Based on the results, it is the employer’s responsibility to take action to remedy any areas with bad air quality.

Maintaining Good Workplace Air Quality

Guidance surrounding Ventilation in the Workplace makes it an employer’s responsibility to ensure adequate ventilation in enclosed areas of the workplace. This is specified as ‘bringing in fresh air from outside and removing indoor air’. This can either be achieved by opening doors, windows and air vents, bricks or grilles. Mechanical ventilation can also be used such as fans, but a colombination of both natural and mechanical ventilation is most effective.

If your workplace does not have access to either of these ventilation methods, then air purifiers are a suitable alternative as they effectively remove dust, pollen, mould spores and viruses from the air.

Book Your Air Quality Assessment

To book an air quality assessment for your workplace, contact Ultra today. We will carry out a full site air quality risk assessment, and provide helpful advice and solutions for your building.

Our Guide To Choosing The Right Air Purifier For Your Business

By Andy Potter • February 11, 2025

The workplace is where your employees spend the majority of their time during the week, and having great air quality is crucial not only for their health but also for their productivity. Improving the air quality in your office minimises the risk of your employees having to take sick leave, as it reduces the level of respiratory diseases and allergens in the air. Investing in a high-quality air purifier is one of the best ways to improve the air quality in your workspace. There’s no shortage of air purifiers on the market, but how do you know which is best? This is our comprehensive explainer guide to why you should invest in an air purifier and the factors you must keep at the forefront of your mind during your search. The Importance Of Indoor Air Quality In The Workplace Indoor air quality (IAQ) is vital in the workplace, and it refers to the quality of the air within indoor spaces. Poor indoor air quality correlates directly with the amount of sick days taken in workplaces. Having a poor IAQ can cause a number of different detrimental health side effects, including allergies, headaches, dizziness, nausea and respiratory problems. The World Health Organisation has called air quality “the world’s largest single environmental health risk,” so there is definite cause for concern regarding your workplace's IAQ. Not only is it vital for ensuring workplace health and safety, but it’s also crucial for maintaining a great reputation in your industry. What Kinds Of Rules & Regulations Are In Place For Workplace IAQ? There are a number of different rules around IAQ that are set out in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations. These regulations state that all workplaces must be ventilated with enough fresh air to prevent ill health. The HSE recommends a fresh air supply of 5-8 litres per second per person but in commercial buildings, 10 litres per second per person is the recommendation. Investing in air purifiers for business is a great way to ensure that you are always compliant with the most current IAQ regulations. When it comes to air quality, the air introduced into a workplace needs to be free of impurities or airborne diseases that may cause illness. But with so many air purifiers on the market, how do you know which is best for your business? Choosing An Air Purifier: Everything You Need To Know When it comes to air purifiers , there are a few things you have to be aware of in order to get the most out of your model – there’s no point investing in an air purifier if you’re not going to see any benefits. These are some of the most important things you need to be aware of when you’re looking for an air purification system that will work for your space. 1. Room Size Knowing the room size is crucial if you’re looking for an air purifier for your workplace. There’s no point investing in a model that isn’t large enough when you calculate your air volume. 2. Your Problem Knowing your problem is key to figuring out which purifier is going to work best for your business. First uncover if your IAQ problems are to do with viruses, mould, smells or something else entirely so that you can tailor your solutions to best suit your needs. 3. Your Needs Once you’ve got your room size and your problem pinpointed, you can begin to look for an air purifier that creates the correct number of Air Changes per Hour (ACH), if this isn’t able to be achieved, your air purifier won’t perform. You also have to be aware of the types of filters that you need as this can have a big impact on ACH. It’s crucial to choose a model that has the right sensor for your needs, otherwise, the auto mode becomes redundant. For example, if smells or dust are the major problem you’re facing, having a model with an in-built CO2 detector isn’t necessary. Types Of Businesses That Can Benefit From Air Purifiers There are a number of businesses that benefit from air purifiers and it’s not just office spaces. Hotels, nursing homes, construction sites and student accommodation are all examples of spaces where IAQ is crucial. Hotel rooms, student accommodation, and offices that lack ventilation can experience issues with both air quality and mould, so ensuring you have an air purification process in place is vital to ensure the safety of employees, guests, and residents alike. Office spaces may benefit from ultra-quiet models that can be on at all times without interrupting telephone calls or important meetings. Whilst hotels and student accommodations may benefit from a wall model that has both air purification and dehumidification in a single unit so you can improve ventilation, prevent mould and improve air quality. Types Of Filters For Your Workplace HEPA HEPA air filters can trap 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or smaller. They remove allergens like dust, mould, pollen and dander. They can also effectively remove smoke and fumes. HEPA filters are great for use in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other areas where constant air purification is an absolute must. Carbon Filters Carbon filters use activated carbon to remove smells, gasses and pollutants from the air. They’re great for removing smells from smoke as well as removing volatile organic compounds like paint, cleaning products and construction materials. They are also effective at removing gasses from acetone and paint fumes, so they are great for construction sites. UC-V UC-V purifiers use Ultraviolet-C light to eliminate airborne pathogens like bacteria, viruses and mould spores. They are great for air purification in areas where reducing airborne pathogens is vital. The UV-C light is combined with filtration technologies like HEPA or carbon filters to neutralise and remove any potential contaminants. Air Purifier Placement Placement matters when it comes to choosing an air purifier for your workplace. You need to ensure it is off the floor, which saves space and ensures that it doesn’t just get unplugged and forgotten about by an employee. Wall models are a great option for businesses as they can be wired into an electrical circuit to be on 24/7. These are perfect for workplaces as you can “set and forget” your air purifier and rest assured that the IAQ in your space is in line with UK regulations. They’re also great as they save space and are a discreet option if aesthetics are important to you. Ceiling models (with noise reduction) are another popular option for workplaces. They can be easily added to the correct positions so that the room's individuals benefit directly from the clean airflow. How Can Ultra Protect Help You? If you’ve been wondering how to choose a good air purifier for your business, our team at Ultra Protect is here to help. In addition to our range of air purifiers, we also have InBiot , a smart solution that monitors and enhances your building's indoor air quality in real-time. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current air purification process or you’re moving to a new space and want to start fresh, we can provide you with bespoke solutions that will work for your business. Contact us today for a consultation or for more information on how you can effectively improve the IAQ in your workplace.