Ventilation and air conditioning in the workplace

Good ventilation is widely recognised as a way to reduce the risk of airborne transmission, particularly in enclosed areas.

The law says employers must make sure there’s an adequate supply of fresh air (ventilation) in enclosed areas of the workplace. You can do this by using:

• natural ventilation - fresh air comes in through open windows, doors or air vents. This is also known as ‘passive airflow’, or
• mechanical ventilation - fans and ducts bring in fresh air from outside

This guidance will help you and your workers:

• identify poorly ventilated areas
• assess the risk from breathing in small particles of the virus (aerosol transmission) in enclosed areas
• decide on the steps you can take to improve ventilation