The office could be a pleasant place to be if it wasn’t for allergens. Going into the office as an allergy sufferer is one of the worst experiences to happen at work. You never know what supplies you need to survive daily battles. Create a better work environment so that everyone can stop suffering from the wrath of allergies. Here are different ways of reducing allergens in the workplace.
Create a Routine Cleaning Schedule
While you have a maintenance crew to handle routine cleaning, they usually do this before workers show up and after everyone leaves. It’s on you to make sure the office stays clean often. Working and sitting around without doing routine cleaning can add to allergen buildup throughout the day.
Start by doing basic cleaning routines, then move into advanced tasks, such as sweeping and vacuuming. The basics might just be taking out the trash more often and dusting areas weekly. Create a schedule and let employees volunteer for one task weekly or monthly.
Be Aware of What Triggers Allergies
A lot can set allergies off, and dust isn’t the only thing. Millions suffer from allergies in the workplace, and with many susceptible to irritants like cleaning supplies and dust, management must find solutions to the causes of allergies in the workplace.
You may have recently approved new policies about pets, but keep in mind that there might be someone on staff with a pet dander allergy. Consider limiting the areas where pets that visit with their owners wander. Also, have the staff members clean up after their companions. Note that some cleaning supplies have strong odors that set off asthma attacks. Buy odorless products instead.
Keep the HVAC Vents Clean
Your HVAC system can use a vent to recirculate air from the outside and replace it with the air inside. It even catches allergens before they make it inside the building. You can improve indoor air quality by replacing the vents as needed. Replacing the vents stops dust and dirt from circulating in the room and affecting employees’ health and safety.
Encourage Employees To Help Reduce Allergens
Just as much as you encourage employees to sanitize after touching dirty surfaces, using the restroom, or eating, you should gently push them to help reduce allergens. Once you’re more aware of reducing allergens and how they affect the workplace, your employees will begin to show the same perceptiveness.
Encourage everyone on staff to keep the workplace clean for all allergy sufferers. It just takes small changes in your routine to improve the air quality in your office.