SAS Urban Survival Handbook by John "Lofty" Wiseman

Author:John "Lofty" Wiseman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2018-04-13T04:00:00+00:00

THE UNHEALTHY OFFICE

Offices might be expected to be much safer than industrial premises—no dangerous machinery, risky processes or toxic chemicals, no working at heights or in difficult conditions. In fact, all these hazards CAN be present in the office environment—from guillotines to ozone emissions, and from cramped conditions to electrical dangers.

Inadequate ventilation, poor lighting and high noise levels are common in many offices. All add to stress levels and undermine both health and work efficiency.

‘Sick’ buildings

The workforce in, or users of, some buildings sometimes report a higher incidence of illnesses than other similar places of work—for no identifiable reason. Offices, hotels and shops are among the types of building usually affected. Common symptoms which occur are:

Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.

A feeling of dryness of the skin and mucous membranes.

Skin rashes and itching.

Mental fatigue.

Headaches, nausea and dizziness.

Recurrent coughs, colds and throat infections, hoarseness and wheezing.

Recurrent gastrointestinal upsets.

There may be no obvious cause for some of these disorders, but there may be common features in these buildings, such as:

Forced and closed ventilation system with air-conditioning.

Windows cannot be opened.

Lighting is ill-considered, or unsympathetic.

Whole interior relatively warm, with no temperature variation from one area to another.

Indoor surfaces often covered with textiles—carpets or fabric-covered walls and room dividers.

Poor standard of hygiene with drinks machines or staff ‘kitchens’.

It has been suggested that the causes of ill-health may include chemical pollutants, from carpets, paints, furniture, office equipment and chemicals used with it—all of which can collect if ventilation is poor. Dust and fibres from furnishings and carpets, and bacterial contaminants, are also possible airborne causes. Low humidity, inadequate air movement, the lack of negatively-charged ions in the air, overheating, poor lighting and other undesirable environmental factors could all be contributory factors.

Apart from complete replanning of the interior of the building and its maintenance systems, there may be little that can be done to put things right—precise causes are often almost impossible to identify. Individuals can improve their own circumstances by managing to get a window open or at worst using a portable fan to combat stuffiness and high temperatures. The most effective action if you feel at risk is to change your job!

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