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.

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




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.

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 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 local exhaust 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 smoke ventilation and exhaust systems are needed to ensure that indoor pollution is prevented and the employees are provided with a safe working environment.

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

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