Occupational Health: Will Work for Air
2006
The Importance of Fresh Air for Work Performance
Sample size: 9
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Olli Seppänen, William Fisk, Q.H. Lei
Primary Institution: Helsinki University of Technology and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Hypothesis
Is there a quantitative relationship between ventilation rates and work performance?
Conclusion
Increasing outdoor ventilation rates can improve worker performance, especially when initial rates are low.
Supporting Evidence
- Increases in work performance were typically 1–3% for each 10 L/s-per-person increase in outdoor ventilation.
- Performance improvements were greater when initial ventilation rates were below 20 L/s per person.
- The analysis suggests that current ventilation standards may be too low.
Takeaway
If you want people to work better, you need to let them breathe fresh air.
Methodology
A meta-analysis of nine studies comparing work performance at different ventilation rates.
Limitations
The analysis may not account for all factors affecting work performance.
Participant Demographics
Studies included data from call centers, classrooms, and controlled office settings.
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