Nearly 80% of office workers in the ASEAN said their building’s indoor air quality has a direct impact on their health and well-being, while 64% believe that indoor air is less healthy to breathe than out door air.
This was the regional findings of Honeywell’s second annual Healthy Buildings Survey entitled “Workplace Air Quality: A Global Concern Emerges”, where 500 office workers across Southeast Asia joined the 3,000-man poll that included their counterparts from India, Germany, the Middle East, United Kingdom and United States. The survey was conducted between December 17, 2021, and January 11, 2022, using an email invitation and an online form.
Across all regions surveyed, ASEAN office workers are among the least knowledgeable about specific factors that affect IAQ. Just 34% correctly identified the factors that contribute to air quality. Despite this seeming lack of awareness, ASEAN workers report having more knowledge about their own building’s IAQ than workers in other regions
Many surveyed workers (58%) said their building IAQ is monitored often or continuously – more than the global average of 43% – and more than half (51%) say they are being informed at the same frequency. The option for self-service IAQ data is also prevalent in the ASEAN region; 59% of workers
have a place where they can read or see current air quality data on their own.
“With a large percentage of workers in the ASEAN region working in the office at least part of the time, and despite many having access to IAQ information in their workplace, employees still want more information,” said Norm Gilsdorf, president, Honeywell ASEAN.
He added that since the pandemic, Honeywell has worked to help companies in the region bring people safely back to their buildings by deploying “innovative technology that helps reassure employees that their workspaces are healthier.
Indeed, Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) solutions integrate air quality, safety and security technologies with advanced analytics to help building owners improve the health of their buildings, operate more cleanly, comply with new guidelines, and help reassure occupants.
Honeywell's advanced IAQ portfolio can help improve occupant well-being, meet energy efficiency goals, and importantly, change the way occupants experience a building. It is transforming the way every building operates to help improve the quality of life. HBT solutions and services are used in more than 10 million buildings worldwide.
Taking proactive actions
While ASEAN workers are more informed, 90% worry more about their building’s IAQ with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.
And the survey said that they are likely to take action if they feel their employer isn’t taking steps to create a healthier indoor environment, with more than two-thirds (68%) saying they would likely quit their job under these conditions.
“These findings suggest that communication of IAQ metrics to employees should be top priority for companies,” added Sharad Yadav, vice president and general manager of HBT, ASEAN.
Doug Wright, president and CEO, Honeywell Building Technologies said: "In a competitive labour market, demonstrating an effort to create a healthier work environment can be an advantage in attracting and retaining employees. Every dollar invested in upgrading workplace air quality, monitoring IAQ data and communicating it to employees is a dollar strategically spent."
