Embargoed until 00.01 Thursday 19th September 2019
BRITISH WORKERS EXPECT BETTER FROM BOSSES ON AIR POLLUTION • Businesses urged to prioritise air quality as nine in ten workers are in the dark on policies to reduce air pollution
• Nearly half want employers to take more responsibility for helping them reduce their exposure to air pollution whilst commuting
• Environmental charity launches top tips for businesses Flexible working, sharing information about local clean air routes and incentivising active travel are just some of the ideas being put to businesses today as new research suggests employers need to do more to protect staff both in the workplace and on their commute. Despite growing public awareness of the harmful effects of air pollution, nine in 10 UK employees are in the dark as to whether their employer has policies to protect them from air pollution, both on their way to and from work and in the work place:
• six in 10 workers believe their employer has no policy at all • two in 10 simply don’t know • one in 10 thought their employer had a policy but it wasn’t communicated to staff • less than one in 10 receive regular communication from bosses on the issues According to new research, released today by environmental charity Hubbub as part of its #AirWeShare campaign, and just ahead of London’s first ever ‘car free’ day this Sunday, more than two thirds of workers in the UK believe employers should take responsibility to ensure the air their staff are breathing in the work place is safe. Professional drivers and outdoor workers are among the most exposed professions, but office employees can also be exposed to high levels of pollution, if they’re commuting into busy urban areas and travelling to and from work meetings1. Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed think employers should take more responsibility to protect staff on their commutes. Health research is increasingly showing air pollution can affect all organs of the body across the course of a lifetime. Recent revelations include links to reduced cognitive abilities, diabetes and the first direct evidence of pollution particles in mother’s placentas. Given that the average British worker spends nearly 85,000 hours at work in their lifetime, and more than 14,000 hours getting there and back2, it’s clear businesses have a significant role to play in addressing this public health crisis.