Workplace health

Access all the support your business needs for good employee health.

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Active travel and air quality in the workplace

Poor air quality affects people’s health and damages the environment. 

Exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, asthma and lung cancer, and it can reduce life expectancy. Every year, poor air quality is responsible for almost 500 early deaths in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.

As well as the devastating individual costs, poor air quality also has a financial cost to businesses. Poor air quality can affect worker's health and wellbeing, which can impact on attendance and productivity. A study by Defra in 2012 found that poor air quality costs the UK economy around £2.7 billion.

Locally, there are two main pollutants causing concern: nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Road traffic is the main source of these pollutants. By reducing the number of vehicles on the road, or by changing the fuel that they use, we can reduce the amount of pollution created.

You can help to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by offering different active travel options in your workplace. Not only will this help to improve your staff’s health and wellbeing, it can also reduce your car parking requirement and lower your businesses carbon footprint.

Active travel can include:

  • Cycling
  • Walking
  • Public transport
  • Car sharing
  • Electric vehicles

Support in Staffordshire

Staffordshire Air Aware

Staffordshire County Council wants to support businesses to promote active and sustainable travel, and has the following resources available to do this:

  • Business travel plan support - By providing free access to Modeshift STARS' Business Travel Planning Software.
  • Support with setting up a pool bike scheme.
  • Cycle and walking maps.
  • Active and sustainable travel communications toolkits.
  • Cycle training (subject to availability).

To get involved, visit the Staffordshire Air Aware webpage.

To check the air quality around your business, take a look at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' interactive map and input your postcode.

Staffordshire Business and Environment Network (SBEN)

SBEN is here to help you to improve the environmental performance of your business. 

The great news is that it’s currently free to become a member of the network!  Once you’ve joined, there are loads of benefits, including:

  • Access to value for money training and seminars
  • Best practice ‘enviro’ visits to local companies, to see the environmental initiatives they’ve implemented
  • Free online access to the Environmental Sustainability GROWTH mapper tool
  • Free access to the online Carbon Tracker tool
  • Networking events
  • Regular newsletters

Visit SBEN’s website to find out more.

Workplace ventilation – CO2 Monitor Loan Scheme for Staffordshire Businesses

Employers must make sure that there is adequate ventilation in enclosed areas of their workplace. Not only is it the law to provide sufficient fresh air for staff, but there is also increasing evidence of the importance of circulating fresh air in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission and other respiratory infections such as flu. Some research has shown that being in a room with fresh air can in some cases reduce the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19 by over 70%. 

The Health and Safety Executive also highlight that good ventilation is associated with:

  • Improved health
  • Better concentration
  • Lower rates of absence from work
  • Better quality of sleep
  • Reduced exposure to a wide range of air pollutants

If you want to check the ventilation in your workplace, why not take advantage of Staffordshire County Council’s free CO2 Monitor Loan Scheme?

Resources to promote active travel in the workplace

Take a look at these useful websites, guidance and campaigns to help promote active travel in your workplace.

Campaigns and websites:

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is a charity that helps people walk and cycle more.
Their website has lots of information on active travel, including:

  • Workplaces – guidance on changing how staff travel to work and details of the Workplace Travel Challenge.
  • Get Active – tips on starting cycling to work and improving bike storage for offices.

Improve Air Quality

Find out what you can do to improve air quality in Staffordshire. Businesses can download posters, social media graphics, and email footers. Visit DoingOurBit Staffordshire for more information

Walking Routes in Staffordshire

Explore beautiful walking routes near your home or workplace. Visit Walking routes in Staffordshire for more information

Cycling in Staffordshire

Plan your ride with cycle maps for each district. Use the journey planner to choose the fastest or quietest route. Visit Cycling in Staffordshire for more information

Physical Activity in the Workplace

Take a look at the Physical activity in the workplace page for ideas on how to support your employees to improve their physical activity levels.

Local schemes:

ECO Stars encourages and helps operators of HGV’s, buses, coaches, vans and taxis to run fleets in the most efficient and green way. Why not join Staffordshire and Stoke’s ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme? 

Get in touch

Let us know what you’re doing in your workplace on active travel by emailing WorkplaceHealth@staffordshire.gov.uk.