Workers are anxious because the coronavirus is still infecting people. Here are ways to evaluate the safety of a shared work space. (July 2021)
As COVID cases drop in the U.S. and vaccinations increase, many companies are bringing their employees back to office buildings.
Unvaccinated people should wear a mask around others who are not in their immediate household , stay six feet apart in public spaces, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, according to the CDC. A minority of people have chosen not to get vaccinated, leaving themselves open to infection and others near them in jeopardy. But some people remain unvaccinated for reasons beyond their control—they don’t have vaccine access or they have health conditions that prevent them from getting a shot.
It may be difficult to find someone at your company who can give you this information. An alternative is to measure the carbon dioxide in the office. “Carbon dioxide level is an indicator of exhaled breath. So if the level is high, it means that there’s a lot of exhaled breath hanging around in the air,” Marr says. “You’re looking for a number below 800 parts per million, or ppm.” She notes that it’s possible to buy a decent handheld CO2 sensor around the size of a phone for about $200.
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