There is a lot more going on in the air than meets the eye. We know that clean air is better for the natural environment and better for us, but few people are aware of how polluted and toxic our air actually is. Clean air should be something that everyone is focused on, environmentalists or not because it affects every area of our lives.
The air quality in our homes, cities, and in the countryside can have serious implications for our health, comfort, and wellbeing. These implications are only maximized in healthcare environments where many people are immune-compromised or should be allowing their bodies to heal without the additional strains of toxins, allergens, and pollutants entering their body every time they breathe. This is equally important in healthcare environments where there are no patients, but research is being done, or medications are being manufactured. The following will explore how clean air solutions can benefit healthcare environments. Of course, all of the information can also be applied to your home and workplace as well.
Indoor Air Tends To Be More Polluted Than Outdoor Air
One of the common objections to the application of clean air solutions comes with the common-sense assumption that outdoor air is where the problem lies. While this might feel correct, given that cars and pesticides and factories and all the rest of it exist outside the building in question, it’s actually false. Indoor air tends to be far more polluted than outdoor air. The devices we use in our homes, workplaces, and medical environments release fumes. The cleaning products we use release fumes. Many of our everyday items like paint, furniture, and varnish release fumes. People drag pollutants into buildings on their shoes and coats.
Clean Air Solutions Work With Areas That Cannot Be Ventilated
One of the easiest ways to make the air feel and taste fresher is to open the windows. But in many environments, particularly those related to medical professions or healthcare research, this is an impossible thing to do. Allergens, viruses, and bacteria cannot be risked entering the building; because of this, windows need to be kept closed. In many instances, rooms need to be sealed off, and everyone who goes in or out must follow a procedure to prevent the dragging in of outside contaminants. Most of today’s top air systems are designed to work specifically in these cases. Fume hoods that work without a duct system as well as bio-safe cupboards, cabinets, and taps exist and are available to help keep the air clean.
Information Availability Is An Option
In sterile environments, it is of the utmost importance that all employees are aware of the air quality and the potential harm done by contaminants. Many air clean air systems have elements or tools which measure the air and report any anomalies or questionable aspects in real-time. Sensors can regularly monitor the air and let you or your staff know if anything has gone awry. This gives you as much time as possible to react and prepare anything necessary to protect your work or staff members. For environments where people are at risk of severe illness or harm should something leak into the air, there are alarm systems that can alter everyone the moment the space becomes unsafe.
Tools Exist For Specific Contaminants
Depending on what is being worked on in your lab or healthcare facility, you may have concerns about fumes and contaminants that the average workplace doesn’t need to worry about. Whatever specific pollutants you are focused on, there are products available to help. Make sure that you are following all appropriate procedures in addition to securing the right materials. There are products designed not to interact with the materials you’re working with but simultaneously prevent any cross-contamination. Materials can include aluminum, polypropylene (which has a high resistance to chemicals and acids), and epoxy-covered metal, but many more options exist.
The above four benefits of clean air solutions are by no means exhaustive. There are countless highly-specialized products available to help keep you, your staff, and their work free from contamination. To better understand the options available, reach out to a provider and discuss the gases, chemicals, solvents, and other biological materials you use in your workplace to figure out what is best for your facility.
Of course, whenever looking for clean air and containment solutions related to your staff's safety and well-being, make sure to seek out companies, materials, and products that are certified for the work you intend to use them for. If you are uncertain what certifications are needed for your work, please research this thoroughly before beginning. Safety should always come first.