Is your office making you sick?

The office environment is generally regarded as a “safe” workplace, free from health risks such as those encountered in the industrial workplace.  Unfortunately, this is not always true since research has shown that the office environment, too, has its risks.

Office workers often have complaints such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue and eye and throat irritations that intensify with the duration of the work day, but abate or resolve when they leave the building.  These employees may be suffering from “sick building syndrome” (SBS), a condition often associated with poor ventilation.

Although problems with ventilation accounts for more than 50 % of the problem, SBS is likely to have a multitude of causes, including chemical contaminants in the air, growth of moulds and bacteria in ventilation systems, inadequate fresh air exchange and distribution, poor workstation lighting, poor ergonomic design and psychological factors such as job stress and structure of work.  In solving these problems, a holistic approach should be followed to investigate all possible causes.

Chemical contaminants account for a large percentage of indoor air quality problems and may originate from inside, or outside the office building.  Sources of inside contaminants include copying machines, pesticides, cleaning agents, polishes, paints, tobacco smoke and wood preservatives.  A common source of outside contaminants is vehicle exhaust fumes drawn into a building’s ventilation system from parking garages.  Other outside contaminants that may affect indoor air quality include those from construction or renovation projects, such as coal tar, solvents and dusts.  The long term health effects that may be caused by asbestos insulation used in some older buildings, needs special attention.

Molds and bacteria may grow in ventilation systems which are turned off over weekends to conserve energy and save money.  The organisms multiply over the weekend and when the system is turned on, on Monday morning, they are distributed along air currents to most or all sections of the building.  Incorrect chemical treatment of cooling water, or the accumulation of dirt and moisture in drip trays, coils and filters may provide a favourable environment for the growth of harmful micro-organisms, including legionella bacteria that cause the often fatal Legionnaires' disease.

A lack of fresh outdoor air supplied to offices, poor air distribution which causes stratification, draughtiness and pressure differences between office spaces, temperature and humidity extremes or fluctuations and air filtration problems caused by improper, or no maintenance to the system are the most common ventilation problems responsible for SBS.  Ventilation is one of the most powerful tools that can be applied to create a more pleasant office environment by replacing deteriorated air with fresh air.

Lighting and colour plays a very important role in preserving the health, well-being and productivity of the office worker.  Artificial illumination is often used to supplement daylight, but natural illumination remains the preferred choice and should be used where possible as it gives a sense of contact with the outside world.  The quantity of light largely depends on the nature of the work and the detail required.  Poor lighting is a major cause of eye strain, fatigue and headaches.  Although colour may not be a pertinent health hazard, the correct choice will go far to facilitate psychological well-being.  Cooler and lighter colours will reflect light better to create a nice and airy work environment.

Ergonomic design in the office environment includes the proper design of office furniture and office equipment, as well as the layout of work stations to improve efficiency and minimize fatigue.  Office chairs must conform to certain standards, including a good backrest, adjustability, freedom of movement and comfort.  Desks should allow plenty of room for leg movement and have the correct working height for the task at hand.  The layout and design of computer workstations present special health problems to operators if not addressed adequately.

Psychological problems that may contribute to SBS include monotony, work pressure, uncoordinated haste, strict supervision and crowded office space.  If these problems are not dealt with as an integral part of the investigation into the causes of SBS, they can progressively lead to poor perception, low morale and underlying discontent.  The consequences are tiredness, sleeplessness, heart disorders, peptic ulcers and even asthma.

Typically, SBS affects more that 20 % of employees in the building, symptoms disappear when they leave the building and reappear when they return.  Large mechanically ventilated, sealed buildings are frequently affected, whilst employees may experience symptoms shortly after occupying a new, or refurbished building or as a result of changes in the building systems, particularly in the ventilation system.

Health risks in the office environment may lower productivity and contribute to poor morale and increase absenteeism.  It makes workers miserable and complaints should not be taken lightly.  From a strict cost-benefit sense, the number of lost work days and the loss of productivity because workers are so miserable, is much higher than investigating and eliminating the health risks concerned.

AirCHECK assists you to investigate the cause of sick building syndrome and conduct indoor air quality surveys.  Please contact us for more information or visit www.aircheck-aia.co.za.