Are you or your employees feeling fatigued or tired at work?
Fatigue at work can manifest itself in various ways and can significantly impact your productivity and overall well-being. Some examples of fatigue at work include:
- Difficulty concentrating or staying focused on tasks
- Feeling drowsy or sluggish during the day
- Difficulty completing tasks that would normally be easy
- Feeling more irritable or stressed than usual
- Experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches or muscle aches
Fatigue can also have a ripple effect on an individual's personal life, leading to insomnia, difficulty relaxing, and feeling run down.
Fatigue and Indoor Air Quality
While fatigue at work can have multiple causes, ranging from lack of sleep and a sedentary lifestyle to stress, poor indoor air quality tends to be one of the most common causes. When people spend a lot of time indoors, for example in an office or a factory, they are exposed to indoor air pollution, which is directly linked to fatigue.
Poor indoor air quality can be caused by a number of factors. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that poor indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental risks to public health. However, the most common ones include:
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Lack of ventilation: Poor ventilation can lead to the buildup of indoor air pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), causing fatigue.
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High temperature and humidity levels: High temperature and humidity levels can make the indoor environment uncomfortable and cause fatigue.
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Chemicals and pollutants: Exposure to chemicals, such as cleaning products, paints, and adhesives, can cause fatigue and other symptoms. Similarly, exposure to outdoor pollutants, such as car exhaust, can be a source of indoor air pollution.
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Overcrowding: Overcrowding can lead to high levels of CO2 and other indoor air pollutants, as well as a lack of fresh air.
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Poor maintenance: Neglecting regular maintenance, such as cleaning and changing air filters, can lead to indoor air quality issues and related symptoms, including fatigue.
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Dust, mold, and allergens: Exposure to these common indoor air pollutants can cause respiratory irritation, allergic reactions, and fatigue.
How to determine if poor indoor air quality is the cause of your headaches?
One way to determine if indoor air pollution is a factor is to pay attention to when your symptoms occur. If you feel particularly tired or sluggish at work, but feel better when you are away from the office, poor indoor air quality may be the cause. Another way to tell if poor indoor air quality is the cause of your fatigue is to look for other common symptoms. You can find a full list of common symptoms of poor indoor air quality in one of our latest articles: how do I recognize indoor air quality symptoms?
How to solve it?
Luckily, indoor air quality issues can be solved! If you suspect that poor indoor air quality is causing your fatigue at work, it is crucial to validate your suspicion and target areas in your office or workplace that need improvement. This may include increasing ventilation, using air purifiers, or avoiding certain chemicals or products causing pollution. It will all depend on what exactly is causing the problem: CO2, humidity, temperature, TVOCs, etc. It is also essential to consult with your employer or building management to address any indoor air quality concerns.
We know it's not always easy to know where to start. Fortunately, acknowledging and identifying that there may be a problem with the air quality of your workspace is the first of five steps to solving the problem. The next four are easy-peasy, just take a look at How to solve your Indoor Air Quality issues in only 5 steps.
By taking steps to improve indoor air quality, you can help reduce your fatigue and improve your overall health and well-being.
Don't let poor indoor air quality hold you back from performing at your best. Take control of your office's air quality and enjoy the benefits of improved energy levels and productivity.