Sick Building Syndrome: How to Keep Your Workplace Safe

Sick Building Syndrome: How to Keep Your Workplace Safe

What is sick building syndrome? You’ve probably heard of the term but are not completely familiar with it or have not experienced it first hand.

“The term ‘sick building syndrome’ (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health issues and/or discomfort that appear to be linked to time spent in a building; with SBS, no specific illness or other source is identified.” – www.thebalancesmb.com

It is often linked to poor indoor air quality which is an existing problem in some remodeled buildings or new offices.

What are the Symptoms of SBS?

When an employee gets sick with no obvious cause is identified, it can be associated with SBS. Especially when the symptoms only occur when that employee has spent some time in one office space or area within the building. Or when these symptoms worsen with continuous exposure to the area.

The possible symptoms can include:

  1. difficulty breathing
  2. chest tightening
  3. runny nose
  4. frequent sneezing
  5. rashes, skin irritations
  6. headaches
  7. fatigue

People with existing medical conditions such as asthma may experience a more severe reaction such as an asthma attack. Although the reaction to SBS may be different for everyone. Some may immediately feel the symptoms, while some do not experience any of the symptoms at all. And some may feel the effects after continuous and constant exposure to SBS.

The Common Causes of Poor Indoor Air

industrial air purifier

The factors that can cause SBS may vary per building, whichever allergen or agent is causing the symptoms. Employees must work with employers to track down the cause (or causes) of the contamination within the building. There are a lot of possible contaminants and factors that may trigger SBS related symptoms.

  • poor ventilation
  • dust
  • asbestos
  • molds or fungus
  • formaldehyde (found in floors and wood furniture)
  • chemicals from cleaning products
  • ozone (from fax machines and printers use)
  • carbon monoxide
  • insect droppings
  • tobacco smoke

Poor ventilation seems top off the list. The standard ventilation ratio is 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of outdoor air per person and 20 cfm per person in offices. There are office spaces or buildings, however, that may require more sources of fresh air. Spaces with more people in it require higher ventilation rates.

This is especially true in production areas, factories, and facilities that deal with different contaminants and pollutants on a daily scale. Better ventilation and exhaust systems are needed to ensure that indoor pollution is prevented and the employees are provided with a safe working environment.

Improving Indoor Air with Commercial Air Filtration

Employers and office building owners are primarily responsible for preventing sick building syndrome from ever affecting both the employees and other building occupants. The simpler approach to the problem is to use cleaning products with no fragrances or with low fumes, regular vacuuming of floors and carpets to remove dust, and routine replacement of air filters in the HVAC system.

For a more systematic approach, investing in a commercial air filtration system can effectively remove contaminants and harmful particles circulating within the working spaces. An industrial air filter does the job fluidly, SBS can be completely taken out of the picture.

Ensuring employee welfare by providing a safe working environment helps the business grow.

For more information, visit https://www.arrowindustrialairfiltration.com/.

The post Sick Building Syndrome: How to Keep Your Workplace Safe appeared first on Arrow Industrial Air Filtration.



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