By Ben Simons
Think of ‘air pollution’ and you’re probably conjuring images of a thick city smog, car exhausts and warm gusts of air on the train. You might assume that behind closed doors you’re relatively safe from these types of pollutants, especially when you’re at home and at work – but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Did you realise that many of the UK’s workplaces are actually dirtier than these types of outdoor spaces?
New research reveals just how contaminated workplace air can be, affecting us financially, physically and mentally. Given that most of us spend a significant portion of our lives indoors, it’s alarming how little attention is paid to this issue.
Yet, it remains an overlooked crisis. UK regulators lag far behind in safeguarding indoor air quality, leaving workers exposed and businesses facing a silent productivity drain.
Talking particulates
Particulate Matter (commonly abbreviated as PM) refers to a mixture of tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air. These particles can include dust, dirt, soot and smoke, as well as microscopic liquid droplets. PM is categorised based on size, with PM2.5 representing finer particles of 2.5 micrometres or smaller – tiny enough to penetrate deep into our lungs and even enter the bloodstream, and categorised by the WHO as carcinogenic. 
The team at Zehnder Clean Air Solutions recently carried out an air quality survey to assess how many of these PM2.5 particles are present in UK industrial workplaces compared to public spaces like bus and train stations.
The findings were shocking: UK workers are breathing air that is on average 63x more polluted than public spaces, including 78x higher than a train station and 92x worse than a bus station – just some peak values which exceed the average in places you’d assume are some of the worst hotspots for air pollution.
Exposure to this level of air pollution is not only a huge risk to business productivity (cleaning the facility from dust settled than doing actual work), but is creating a silent health crisis.
The silent killer
Workers exposed to high levels of PM2.5 concentration are at risk of developing serious health conditions and worsening pre-existing ones. UK employers must understand that poor air quality is having a direct impact on their workers, and it has become an occupational health risk.
High levels of air pollution have been linked to cardiovascular problems, dementia and cancer to mention a few. Working in such environments eight hours a day, five days a week can also take a serious toll on mental health.
Poor air quality is forcing 3.9m sick days and year and tragically leads to 36,000 preventable deaths each year.
The trickle-down effect of these health risks is staggering. The more health issues experienced by workers, the more sick days they take, and businesses start to face a productivity crisis. Such is the impact that poor air quality is currently costing the UK economy £900m annually.
The regulatory gap leaving workers unprotected
In recent years, the UK has put in great effort to create public spaces with clean air, the ULEZ zone in London being a prime example. The Government acknowledges that poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, yet current COSHH workplace air quality regulations are over 30 years’ old and out of line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommended levels. This means that even when employers comply with the UK’s law, there’s still the potential for harm.
Following the pandemic, office workers became aware of the way particulates moved, and steps have been taken to improve the quality of air in office environments. But industrial production workers have not had the same privilege; our research found their air is 34x more polluted than in the office spaces of the same business. It is simply unjust that one group of employees enjoys cleaner air while another is exposed to harmful pollution just because they are not sitting behind a desk.
The levels of exposure are almost off the charts: it’s time UK employers understand the importance of clean air at work and act upon it
The path forward: what employers must do
A large part of the current issue is due to a lack of understanding and awareness. A lot of UK employers may not even be aware of the link between their air quality and high levels of absenteeism or sick leave. Investing in clean air solutions isn’t just an ethical obligation, it’s a strategic business decision that enhances workforce well-being and performance.
The hardest part is that poor air quality is often almost impossible to see until the effects are already being felt. However even before testing, there are a few tell-tale signs that business leaders should be looking out for. If you are noticing a visual haze in the air under bright lights, dust gathering on surfaces, smells that cling to clothes even when workers have left for the day or reports of dirty shower water, then it’s time to take action.
There are several steps businesses can take now to start improving their workplace air quality, but the starting point is to measure current pollution levels. Understanding ventilation, airflow and potential equipment are key points to consider in the first place.
Conclusion: A business and moral imperative
This silent crisis has gone on too long and is endangering the lives of too many workers, and ultimately, our economic health. It’s a wonder we’ve gone on so long without talking about it. If left unchecked, business’ bottom lines will slowly be eroded by a mounting productivity crisis. The first step is to seek expert help to assess the air quality in your building. From there, there are many steps employers can take to improve conditions and benefit from a healthier, happier workforce.
The cost of inaction is too great. It’s time to clean the unseen.
About the Author
Ben Simons is Head of Zehnder Clean Air Solutions Europe West and is leading the Clean the Unseen campaign, which aims to educate workers and employers about the dangers of unsafe levels of air pollution. Ben’s mission is to champion the benefits of Clean Air to industry.
