As a society, we are all more aware of the health risks associated with COVID than ever before. This is especially true in occupational environments where employees may be exposed to high levels of COVID regularly.

Businesses can help reduce exposure by replacing traditional lighting sources in their offices with UVC lighting, which kills most airborne pathogens and bacteria in their tracks without generating heat or UV radiation.

What is UVC Lighting?

Ultraviolet C (UV-C) light is an invisible waveband emitted by sunlight, indoor bulbs with a UVC filter, and other artificial sources. Although it can cause eye and skin injury without proper precautions, UVC lighting still represents one of the most powerful tools to fight airborne viruses and bacteria in settings like hospitals, clean rooms, wellness facilities, commercial spaces, and more.

When a UV light source encounters airborne microorganisms, the effect appears almost instantaneous. The organisms are quickly neutralized by UVC light and rendered unable to infect anyone nearby, which will turn your office into a safe space for day-to-day work.

Based on a previous scientific study conducted by Columbia University – Center for Radiological Research, UVC lighting has been found to be effective in destroying airborne microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, and superbugs.

 

How Can UV Light Reduce the Spread Of COVID-19 in a Work Environment?

COVID-19 is a virus that produces flu-like symptoms in people. It can cause mild to severe respiratory diseases and even death in extreme cases.

Because COVID has a direct exposure through airborne transmission, it has the potential to be passed from person to person simply by breathing the same air – whether at work or away from it.

Since COVID can spread through the air, businesses are taking proactive steps to reduce exposure by installing these lamps wherever possible. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends replacing traditional lighting with UVC lights in every workplace and public environment where the risk of airborne infection exists.

When used correctly, UV light is an excellent way to kill viruses, including COVID-19. Even better, UVC light can take care of the problem without generating heat or UVC radiation – which means you do not need to worry about the potential long-term side effects of traditional UV exposure, like skin cancer.

Air Purification

Airborne viruses can contaminate the air in your work environment in a variety of ways. Ventilation ducts, air conditioning systems, and even carpeting can help spread these bugs throughout your building. That’s why it is important to approach disinfection and sanitation in a holistic manner.

If you choose to have UVC lighting installed in your office together with all practical means of combating the virus, you can gain a sense of confidence that the chances of COVID spreading in the air is less likely.

The potential health risks associated with COVID are easily minimized when you use UVC light to sanitize the air in your environment.

Disinfection

When a virus lands on an inanimate object, it can survive and thrive for several days – even under ideal conditions.

Using UVC light to disinfect surfaces and small items is just as important as using it to sanitize the air. This includes everything from countertops and coffee makers to doorknobs, keyboards, fax machines, telephones, and other frequently touched objects.

Using UVC light to disinfect these surfaces whenever necessary can help prevent the spread of diseases brought on by exposure to COVID-19 at work.

Personal protective equipment can also be disinfected with UV light to ensure that it stays sanitary for the duration of its use.

The human skin is the hardest surface on the body to disinfect, but you can help prevent infection by regularly disinfecting your PPE with a UV lamp. Remember, only use UV lighting to disinfect your personal protective equipment, and not your skin or any part of your body. UVC lighting is relatively safe, but it can potentially damage human skin and eye cells if they are used incorrectly.

Cleaning HVAC Systems

Although they are a staple in almost every building, traditional air duct systems can pose a significant threat of transmitting airborne diseases like COVID-19 to anyone within range. Fortunately, UVC light can also be used to clean and sanitize small regions of HVAC systems effectively.

With a specialized UVC energy source installed by professionals, you can reduce the risk of COVID exposure in your workplace while maintaining peak air quality throughout the building.

Visible light from the sun can easily penetrate the skin and cause damage to the body’s cells. Simply standing outside on a sunny day can be enough to expose your skin to harmful UV radiation.

UVC light is different from UVA and UVB rays because it does not cause any photochemical reaction in living cells. This means that UVC light will not interfere with your cell’s ability to absorb other forms of useful energy and does not cause any damage that can be passed on to future generations.

Remember, UVC lights are best used together with sufficient property maintenance. If your workspace has been left unoccupied for a while, it’s best to have your ducts cleaned by a professional to get rid of any stagnant debris, dust, and other foreign substances.

Frequently Asked Questions About UVC Lighting

What is electromagnetic radiation used for?

It is used in air purification, water purification, environmental monitoring, and disinfection of surfaces in hospitals and other public places.

What does the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) say about UV light?

They have stated that ultraviolet light in the UV range is safe for use on hard surfaces. They also mentioned here, that UVC radiation may be an effective means to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes COVID-19.

Last Thoughts

UV light has a lot of benefits for people in the workplace. It can potentially reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, help disinfect and clean HVAC systems, and purify air to make it healthier.

If you are looking for an efficient way to improve your business’s indoor environment while reducing energy costs, then UVC lighting would be the ideal solution.

Contact us today if you need more information on how this type of lighting technology could work with your company’s needs or schedule a free consultation. We have a wide variety of lighting solutions that will fit any budget and get results fast!