It's Clean Air Day – (c) Action for Clean Air
Clean Air Day, celebrated on 16 June 2022, is the UK's largest campaign to reduce air pollution, and unites communities, businesses, schools and the health sector in a common goal.
The UK Government reports: “The annual mortality of human-made air pollution in the UK is roughly equivalent to between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year.”
Mark Bouldin, clean air expert at Johnson Controls, says: “Regulations around clean air need to be revised and drastically improved. Simply put, regulations are not strong enough and will put the health of your employees and the productivity of your business at risk. Businesses that truly want to get the best out of their employees and keep them healthy must set their own benchmark higher for clean air.
“Integrated clean air technologies allow employees to focus and thrive in their respective environments, and businesses now have the opportunity to create an environment that’s sustainable, efficient, and healthy. Ultimately, air quality needs to be put firmly on the agenda, not just on Clean Air Day, but at all times.”
Key to any discussion about air quality, says Alastair Reynolds, vice-president and general manager of global services at Honeywell Building Technologies, is examining and addressing indoor air quality.
“Following the Covid-19 pandemic, indoor air quality in office spaces is now of paramount concern to workers and the companies that seek to retain them,” Reynolds argues.
Honeywell research shows:
- 94% of UK workers believe the quality of the air they breathe has a direct impact on their health and wellbeing
- 86% believe indoor air quality is less healthy than outdoor air
“UK workers believe that improving indoor air quality provides myriad benefits including better overall physical health, fewer allergens in their working environments, fewer airborne contaminants, better overall mental health and even improved productivity and solving,” Reynolds explains.
Reynolds says that with 65% of UK C-level executives and 48% of the general workforce stating they would leave their jobs if their employer does not create a healthier work environment, indoor air quality cannot be ignored.
“Given the significance of employee retention for any prospering organisation – and the importance of worker health and well-being – companies should use Clean Air Day to reflect on how better they can improve the quality of their working environments,” Reynolds concludes.
