Ventilation in the Workplace

The law requires UK employers to provide adequate ventilation in enclosed areas of the workplace to remove stale or contaminated indoor air and bring in fresh air. This is mandatory as a result of UK ventilation regulations that must be strictly adhered to, with failure to do so risking employee sickness and financial penalties for the business.

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While the law applies to all sectors, it’s particularly important when employees are working in a potentially hazardous environment. A risk assessment will identify issues and determine the necessary measures to minimise the risks of air pollutants to help achieve high quality indoor air.

Legal requirements for workplace ventilation

The employer must ensure every enclosed workspace has adequate ventilation to allow a “sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air” to enter under Regulation 6 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992.

Ventilation refers to the process of bringing in fresh air from outside, or purifying indoor air which may contain pollutants and impurities, or may be stale, hot and humid due to work processes and machinery. This can include ventilation in warehouse environments, for example, where a healthy and safe environment is essential to protect both employees and stored goods and equipment.

A more specific law, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, known as COSHH, covers the safe removal of harmful substances from the air by using a dust or fume extraction system. This protects employees in high risk environments who may be exposed to pollutants such as welding fumes, or dust generated by various industrial processes.
COSHH legislation has been in place for more than 25 years, with the most recent version, in 2002, enhanced with amendments from the Control of Substances Hazardous to Work Regulations 1999.

UK ventilation laws were updated in 2021, when Part F of the Building Regulations was amended for buildings other than dwellings, with the changes coming into effect on 15th June 2022. The update included requirements for both mechanical and natural ventilation, with the emphasis on providing adequate air extraction and supply in different building types. This legislation works in conjunction with the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992.

Health risks associated with poor ventilation

The primary health issues include respiratory diseases, headaches, fatigue and long-term illnesses. It may also worsen conditions like asthma and allergies, or cause eye irritation. Around 12,000 deaths annually are linked to earlier exposure to dust and fumes in the workplace, with the majority being due to respiratory issues.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, an estimated 13,000 cases of breathing and lung problems every year are caused or worsened by working conditions. In addition, poor ventilation can contribute to the growth of mould, further impacting air quality and potentially causing respiratory issues and allergic reactions. Airborne irritants can lead to coughing and sneezing, headaches, dizziness, nausea and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.

Main causes of poor ventilation

Common causes include an outdated infrastructure, lack of proper filtration systems, inefficient HVAC systems and failure to address specific air quality needs in certain environments.

We can help businesses comply with the regulations and keep employees safe. When you purchase an AirBench dust extraction system, you’re choosing the UK’s leading range of downdraught benches that capture dust using internal filters, returning clean air to the room.

Similarly, our fume extraction systems provide a safe and healthy working environment. An essential part of your COSHH compliance, they can protect your people and products from gases, fumes, solvents and smoke. A build-up of fumes and debris can be highly dangerous over time, so removing pollutants effectively is crucial to employee safety. Using a powered fan to create a negative draught, our fume extractors remove airborne contaminants created by day-to-day processes.

Our systems include downdraught benches to capture fumes from solvents or solder using filters to suit each specific application. In addition, our VertEx cross-draught systems extract and filter fumes through a wall, or we can provide a full booth with an optional VB system, enabling the operator to work in a fully extracted space without risk of contamination.

Penalties for sub-standard workplace ventilation

The consequences for businesses that fail to meet legal requirements are severe, as non-compliance can result in unlimited fines, damage to employee health, reduced productivity and even reputational harm.

Don’t leave anything to chance: contact us for information on our products and services, and make sure your business is compliant with workplace regulations.