Air Quality from your Copier
You may not be aware of this, but your office copier could be affecting the quality of your air. While the symptoms are often mild, some people who are affected greatly benefit from some precautionary steps. Following a few simple rules could greatly benefit those in your office who are sensitive to air quality.
To begin, it’s important to note that many people will not notice the affects that a copier has on your offices air quality. This is mostly from people who have a history of lung and respiratory problems, or those who have severe asthma.
Most copiers produce volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. The most common of these VOCs is Ozone, which is great for the atmosphere but can be harmful to your lungs. Inhaling too much ozone can cause a number of problems for those who have sensitive lungs. They may experience trouble breathing, decreased lung capacity, chest pain, or lung inflammation.
Following these few simple steps could help someone in your office start to feel better quickly.
- Move your copier away from people’s desks. You don’t want one person to have to breath ozone all day, especially if they are susceptible to these problems.
- Place your copier in a well-ventilated area. This will help get the ozone directly out of the office and away from the lungs of your workers.
- Replace your filters on time. Many people forget to do this because they don’t realize how important it is. Remember to keep track and replace your filters when you need to.
Following these steps could drastically help some people breathe easier in your office. Air quality from your copier is a problem that many people do not know exists. However, those who are affected will notice a difference if you take the time to make sure they are comfortable.
