There are a number of questions that employees should be asking themselves if they are often exposed to air conditioning at work. Alongside, these questions, we should know our human rights. According to WHO (World Health Organisation), all people have a fundamental right to breathe clean air! That means that whether you work in an office, restaurant, bakery, supermarket etc you deserve to breathe clean, healthy, uncontaminated air.

Has a professional looked at your office aircon lately?

Air conditioning units should be booked in for a professional service at least once a year. For bigger office blocks, this could be 2-3 times each year. The reason air conditioners need to be cleaned so frequently is due to contaminates that easily enter AC units. With a range of staff members and customers entering the office while potentially carrying illnesses, pet dander amongst many other scary pollutants, this could contaminate the unit and ultimately impact the air you breathe in the office.

Are you in contact with AC air pollution?

Did you know… AC units that are old and haven’t been properly maintained have been shown as factors in many health conditions, including respiratory conditions and the spread of certain diseases.

How can you protect yourself against AC air pollution?

• Check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning or changing your unit’s air filters.
• Open the windows as much as you can. Allow fresh air to circulate in your office and flush out pollutants.
• Have a professional AC cleaning company do annual check-ups and clean your office air-con.
• Ensure the last person to leave the office at night turns off the system.