Worker Performance and Ventilation in a Call Center: Analyses of Work Performance Data for Registered Nurses

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date Published

12/2004

Authors

DOI

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between ventilation rates and individual work performance in a call center, and controlled for other factors of the indoor environment. We randomized the position of the outdoor air control dampers, and measured ventilation rate, differential (indoor minus outdoor) carbon dioxide (ΔCO2) concentration, supply air velocity, temperature, humidity, occupant density, degree of under-staffing, shift length, time of day, and time required to complete two different work performance tasks (talking with clients and post-talk wrap-up to process information). ΔCO2 concentrations ranged from 13 to 611 p.p.m. We used multivariable regression to model the association between the predictors and the responses. We found that agents performed talk tasks fastest when the ventilation rate was highest, but that the relationship between talk performance and ventilation was not strong or monotonic. We did not find a statistically significant association between wrap-up performance and ventilation rate. Agents were slower at the wrap-up task when the temperature was high (> 25.4°C). Agents were slower at wrap-up during long shifts and when the call center was under-staffed.

Journal

Indoor Air

Volume

14

Year of Publication

2004

Issue

Supplement s8

Organization

Research Areas