How Poor Air Quality Can Affect Your Business

Posted in Air Quality, on May 29, 2025

Atmosphere is an essential part of the work and business environment. It affects employees, staff, and the customer experience, and several important elements can make or break a good one. While atmosphere is partially created by the people that inhabit a business, the rest is often due to how good or bad the indoor air quality is. 

At SafeAir, we specialize in air quality testing in Toronto, which can help uncover and correct the operational, financial, and health-related consequences of indoor air quality issues in the workplace. We offer specialized services like radon testing or mold testing, too, which can help uncover problems that will affect staff for decades.

Effects on Employee Health and Productivity

Air quality is one of the hidden causes of poor employee health and reduced productivity. A study from the Department of Environmental Health in the USA found a marked decrease in cognitive function in workers exposed to PM2.5 and CO2, two common indoor air pollutants.

Beyond slower response times, indoor air pollution can increase sick days and absenteeism because of allergies, respiratory symptoms, and headaches. Long-term consequences are hard to measure, but they may be contributing factors to burnout and chronic health problems. And of course, physically uncomfortable work environments quickly become emotionally uncomfortable too, and it’s not hard to imagine how poor morale quickly affects staff.

Customer Experience and Perception

Indoor air quality affects customers and clients as well. Some problems, like mold growth, cause unpleasant odours, which can make spaces feel unclean or unsafe. On the flip side, using highly scented products can cause respiratory symptoms or irritate allergies and chronic conditions, suggesting that scent-free products are best. A fresh, well-ventilated business improves customer comfort and trust in your brand and products. 

Financial and Operational Consequences

There’s a financial and operational cost to poor air quality at work. Lost productivity and healthcare costs from sick staff can add up! Not to mention, there are potential legal or regulatory issues if there are issues that exceed occupational health and safety standards. 

Beyond the human costs, products and inventory can be damaged or destroyed by conditions like high humidity or mold growth. In the age of online reviews, public negative feedback can make a real impression on future clients and lead to further, incalculable losses.

Signs Your Business May Have Air Quality Issues

As an employee, manager, or business owner, you can watch out for common signs that your workplace has an indoor air quality problem. If elements of this list are commonly reported at your workplace, SafeAir recommends having air quality testing performed to rule out temporary changes and establish a baseline. Common signs of poor air quality include:

• Dust or grime buildup on surfaces. 
• Musty, sour, or damp odours. 
• Humidity problems. 
• Inconsistent HVAC performance or ventilation issues.
• Employee complaints about air quality or symptoms like coughing, sneezing, or headaches. 
• Recent renovations or construction. 
• Use of chemical products indoors or near ventilation areas. 

Why Professional Air Quality Testing Matters

As we’ve demonstrated, the subtle but important state of your workplace’s indoor air quality can have huge effects on employees, customers, and operations.  Small changes in air quality can have demonstrable impacts, both positively and negatively, which is where SafeAir can help. Our professional air quality testing in Toronto will assess your workplace’s air environment, cataloguing common allergens, pollutants, and conditions that cause adverse effects, like high humidity and reduced ventilation. Our science-led services can identify hard-to-assess or invisible issues through specialized mold or radon testing services, and help you or your health and safety committee put into place strategies that will create positive changes. To learn more about SafeAir and how air quality testing works, contact our team to ask about how we can help. 

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