Effect of Indoor Operational Environment on Workers’ Well-Being in Industrial Buildings: The Case for Pharmaceutical Factory in Nigeria

Abstract

In 2021, the worth of the pharmaceuticals market across the globe was estimated and projected to $1.17 trillion resulting in increasing pharmaceutical factories. Yet, less attention is given to the indoor operational environment of these buildings and the impact on the workers’ well-being. To address these emerging concerns, this study investigated the indoor operational environment of pharmaceutical buildings. A field survey was conducted on purposively selected 14 pharmaceutical factory buildings in Southwestern Nigeria. Measurements of indoor environmental parameters were taken from the buildings with the aid of multifunctional air quality, and other handheld instruments. Findings show the presence of gaseous substances in the air within the production area and inadequate ventilation to dissolve and evacuate the gases which could negatively impact workers’ well-being. The study concludes that a multidisciplinary approach encompassing the stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry is critical to developing optimal design solutions for a well-designed pharmaceutical factory in Nigeria.