5 Ways To Improve Air Quality In Manufacturing Facilities

One common problem that many manufacturers face is the quality of the air inside their factories. Even the cleanest ones are subject to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) if there are no measures to ensure clean air.

As a responsible business owner, you should ensure that your place is free from numerous air pollutants to prevent sickness. Keeping a clean work environment will also prevent your business from incurring unnecessary expenses or fines. You can do these steps to protect your business and your staff and improve your premises’ overall air quality.

Identify the Source of Pollution

Operating a manufacturing business means that you’re continually operating various machines that process raw materials such as wood, plastic, or chemicals. There are cases when the equipment you’re using produces dust that can be harmful when inhaled. This is why you need to ensure that the air inside your facility isn’t hazardous.

You should check the root of the polluted air inside your premises. Inspect your equipment and see if it’s working efficiently and isn’t releasing unwanted particles in the air. Also, check your ventilation system and make sure it’s not filled with dust since it can spread once you turn it on.

If you want to ensure that your place has good air quality, you can get additional equipment to rid your facility of dust, fumes, and excess heat. Machines like a mist collector from Wesellfans.com can filter the air inside your manufacturing plant so you can have clean, breathable air.

Clean Your Equipment Regularly

Proper maintenance of all your manufacturing machines is also crucial in improving the air quality inside your factory. Your equipment can accumulate dust and other debris, which can mix with the air.

For instance, woodwork machinery used to cut and process wood can get sawdust stuck on its parts. Whenever you turn on the machine, the particles stuck on it can fall off and pollute the air in your facility. Those who work closely with factory machines can quickly get sick if they breathe in the air. Dirty equipment is also prone to breaking down, which can cost you more money.

Regular cleaning and maintenance will ensure that your machines are working properly and aren’t health hazards to your workers.

Install Air Filtration Systems

It’s challenging to work in an environment that’s hot and congested. It can put your employees at risk, and if the products your make are temperature-sensitive, it can ruin your business operations.

Before you open your factory, you should make sure that it’s equipped with proper air filtration systems. You have to ensure that the place is well-ventilated and free from contaminants such as asbestos, mold, or dust.

An air filtration system will rid of any dangerous particles in the air and provide cleaner air inside your premises.

Watch Out for Warning Signs

If your workers are getting sick, fatigued, or too exhausted after spending time inside your facility, you should check the air quality inside immediately. Health issues can start to arise as a result of poor air quality. You don’t want your staff to repeatedly file for absences or make insurance claims because you can’t provide a healthy working environment.

One usual culprit of bad IAQ is mold. It can cause various breathing and health problems, so you should inspect your place to see if it’s free from this air contaminant. Remember that the air inside your manufacturing plant shouldn’t feel stuffy or smell bad. If it does, then you probably have a mold problem.

It’s advisable to hire a professional to diagnose and remove the problem, so you can be sure that it won’t resurface.

Use Protective Equipment

You shouldn’t feel complacent simply because you have a good ventilation system installed in your manufacturing plant. Providing personal protective equipment should be a standard procedure in your factory. It’s one of the requirements when operating a manufacturing business and will act as an additional preventive measure against health problems caused by poor IAQ.

Requiring everyone to wear PPE inside your premises will help prevent them from inhaling dust and other harmful chemicals. You should make sure that all your employees have access to full PPE gear. Find a supplier that can provide a steady supply for your business. This way, you don’t have to worry about running out of stock or halting operations due to a lack of protective equipment.

Final Thoughts

Running a business as a manufacturer puts a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Aside from making sure that you’re operating your business efficiently, you should also guarantee your workers’ safety.

Poor air quality in your premises can affect your employees’ health and result in a decline in your company’s performance. Of course, there are ways to keep your workplace pollution-free, such as installing proper ventilation and air filtration systems and watching out for signs of air contaminants. By doing so, you can ensure that you won’t encounter more serious problems in the future.