Most people don’t associate desk jobs with high levels of health risks, but that doesn’t mean that the office environment is entirely free from hazards. Poor air quality and vermin create health concerns and contribute to illnesses in your staff. Discover how your office environment is putting your workers at risk, and learn new ways that green pest control methods can improve conditions.
Poor Air Quality
Even though all buildings must meet certain health standards to be occupied, not all ventilation systems are completely adequate. When old ventilation ducts get full of dust, moisture, and molds, these contaminates are blown through the air onto workers. Even though your immune system may be strong enough to resist an illness, consuming extra energy to fight off infection can leave you feeling tired and worn out. Building maintenance on old air systems should be performed annually, and workers should open windows to allow fresh air to circulate whenever possible.
I’m a Mechanical Engineer at a hospital. We had some significant issues in a facility and tried many companies and so-called solutions to fix the problem but nothing had any lasting results. Then I tried The Signal Hygiene guys. After a single treatment, the problem was completely gone and hasn’t come back in over two and half years.
Infestations
Leaky pipes increase the humidity levels and leads to the growth of mold and fungus in the first place. Even worse, vermin like cockroaches, bed bugs, and termites favor environments that are humid and can end up living in the walls. Most insect infestations go undetected by workers for a long time. The nocturnal habits of these bugs keep them out of sight during normal business hours. Usually, it isn’t until the problem has grown out of control that they are discovered. By then, the insects have taken over large sections of the building. So when you notice even the smallest signs of infestations in your property, it is recommended to call on a termite control professional to do a thorough inspection.
When air quality is already an issue, finding an infestation presents an additional hazard. Oftentimes it is necessary to treat buildings with chemical sprays. Industrial pesticides can linger and expose your workers to even more toxins.
Prevent an Infestation
To reduce the likelihood of an infestation, it is important to keep your work spaces clean and free from things that attract pests. Eating meals at your desk may be convenient, but cockroaches love to crawl around your trash looking for food crumbs.
The step is always prevention. Adopt new sanitation policies and resolve all maintenance issues:
- Eat in break rooms only
- Routinely dust and clean furniture
- Take out the garbage every night
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets
- Seal cracks in walls and other access points
- Change ventilation filters routinely
Following these simple practices will lower the risk that vermin will contaminate your business.
Extermination
Once your office has been targeted by insects, it can be difficult to remove them. Some species are resistant to the pesticides, and the chemicals may negatively impact your working environment. This is especially true if your business is related to food service industry or if you must directly interact with customers.
New environmentally friendly pest control techniques have proven to be highly effective in eliminating certain varieties of bugs. Using chemicals created from natural organic substances presents less of a hazard to your workers and can often be incorporated with an overall program to improve the air quality in your building.
You staff is important to the success of your business. Ensuring that they are happy and productive sometimes requires addressing deficiencies with their environment. When you need to eliminate an insect problem, look for pest control companies that specialize in green pesticides to improve conditions without the negative impact of other harsh chemical treatments.