Is your room well ventilated?
Is the ventilation in your room in order? That will be the big question next fall, now that it is clear that we are still not rid of covid. Ventilation is crucial – but is it happening?
Source: Piqsels
De AOb has made guidelines for the primary education en secondary education. This guide provides teaching staff and participation councils with tools for raising the issue of poor ventilation with the school management. Work is underway on a guideline for senior secondary vocational education and higher education.
For example, one of the important points in the guideline for primary and secondary education is that ventilation systems should be checked regularly. Is there an installation expert available who can perform this check? Or can the school have CO2 meters at its disposal to monitor the air quality in the classrooms itself?
Does the school have CO2 meters to monitor the air quality in classrooms?
It is also important to be careful with 'recirculation'. In the ventilation system, the (warmer) indoor air is wholly or partly mixed with fresh air supply. In this way, heating costs can be saved, but there is much less air exchange. The RIVM strongly advises against recirculation due to covid.
Clarity
The guide offers many other points of interest. The most important advice from the AOb is not to accept the reassurances of the board or the school management. If there are doubts among colleagues, an investigation by an independent third party can provide the desired clarity.
To care
If you think that your room cannot be adequately ventilated, raise this with the MR. And as a teacher, enter into a conversation with your manager. How can your safety be guaranteed? For example, by teaching in a different classroom, or by temporarily working from home again? Your manager must be open to your concerns, because the management or school board is obliged to ensure a safe - and therefore well-ventilated - workplace.
Read more? Ventilation subsidy does not solve overdue maintenance
