The month of May signifies Clean Air Month, an initiative supported by the American Lung Association dedicated to educating the public on the importance of clean air. Recognizing the dangers associated with polluted air is essential to keep employees safe. Unfortunately, there are several severe health conditions that can be caused by poor air quality, including cancer, bronchitis, allergies, and asthma. Not only is it the priority of National Clean Air Month to spread awareness about these consequences, it is also to encourage individuals and organizations to take steps to improve air quality. Luckily, there are many opportunities available to reduce pollution and protect against harmful conditions.
Here's how you can help:
Participate in Bike to Work Day.
Try biking to work to liven up your commute and help preserve clean air! There are several personal benefits to this initiative, including:
Improve physical fitness
Save money with fewer fuel costs
Vehicle Longevity
The reduced use of motor vehicles allows for a decrease in carbon emission, therefore increasing clean air and improving the environment.
Minimize Sources of Indoor Air Pollution.
It is essential to prevent the spread of pollution indoors, especially in workplaces where employees spend much of their time. Healthy air is a part of the safe work conditions which employers must provide. To ensure your workspace has high-quality air, you should:
Store food properly
Avoid bringing in products with strong odors or harmful emissions
Clean up spills immediately
Keep Air vents open
Conserve all types of energy.
Increased use of unnecessary energy can negatively impact air quality due to the emission of fossil fuels. Be sure to do your part in preserving energy by:
Looking for the Energy Star label when buying office equipment
Install lighting occupancy sensors to automatically turn lights on or off
Turn off computers and other technology during non-business hours
Review the American Lung Association's page on Clean Air at Work or visit OSHA's guidelines regarding Indoor Air Quality to learn more.
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