White Collar Workplace - A Hazardous Environment?
Itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion, wheezing, coughing, and sneezing? You might be one of the more than twenty to twenty five million people who suffer from occupational asthma-a workplace allergy-which accounts for about 10 percent of asthma cases in the United States, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Occupationally-induced asthma is the most prevalent work-related disease in developed countries. It is estimated that up to 15% of asthma cases in adults may be job related. Occupational asthma or occupationally-induced asthma is defined as a lung disorder caused by inhaling fumes, gases, dust or other potentially harmful substances while "on the job."
Almost any workplace has potential triggers, but if you work in certain industries your risk to develop occupational asthma is higher than others. The Mayo Clinic lists the sixteen riskiest jobs and the occupational asthma producing substances associated with them, including veterinarian (exposure to dander, animal proteins), cabinet maker (wood dust), cleaning staff (disinfectants), baker (dust from flour and grain) and hairdresser (chemicals and fumes) among others.
How can you prevent occupational asthma or lower your risk of developing it? You can simply avoid employment in high-risk professions, especially if you have a family or personal history of allergies or asthma. If you've accepted an offer or already have a job in a high-risk profession, your company has legal responsibilities to help protect you from hazardous chemicals. Under guidelines established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), your employer is required to 1) inform you if you'll be working with any hazardous chemicals, 2) train you how to safely handle these chemicals and to respond to an emergency, such as a chemical spill, 3) provide protective gear, such as masks and respirators, and finally 4) offer additional training if a new chemical is introduced to your workplace; also, your employer is required to keep a Material Safety Data Sheet for each hazardous chemical that's used in your workplace.
Interestingly, a white collar workplace or an office is not on Mayo Clinic's list. One would think a business office is the least hazardous environment. But you might want to reconsider. In fact, according to the New York Times, conflicts over work-related irritants and allergens can end up in court. For instance, last July, Susan McBride, who is an employee in the planning department of the City of Detroit, sued the city in United States District Court for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ms. McBride suffered from severe migraines, dizziness, nausea, earaches and sinus and breathing problems when exposed to strong scents, and she regularly became ill at work when a colleague came to work wearing heavy perfume. The colleague refused to stop spritzing (though she did agree to unplug an air freshener) and the employers did not take any action to ban scents in the workplace.
Another hidden but very important issue that needs to be considered is the effect of toxic emissions from paints, lacquers, and adhesives. The impact of toxic wood glue and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) lacquers on employees' health are well-known. A recent study established a link between CO emissions and respiratory health, as such emissions released from chemical products has consistently been shown to induce detrimental health. More specifically, they can cause sore throat, nausea, respiratory diseases and even lung cancer.
Another important issue in the white collar office is the air quality and the maintenance of a ventilation system. Office workers, especially in humid and dark basement offices, are highly likely to develop work related allergies and possibly occupational asthma if the proper precautions were not taken. And even more basically, open offices are very likely environments for the spread of germs during winter. When one employee gets sick, the germs spread easily throughout the workplace and many employees could miss workdays.
The challenge facing commercial interior designers and manufacturers in this era is to design, create, and produce risk-free work environments and office furniture products that do not induce detrimental employee health. The use of environment-friendly paint, non-toxic wood glue and water-based, no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) lacquers need to be encouraged and also modern technologies like temperature, sound, lighting, and ventilation systems for individual workstations must be adopted. There is no doubt that in the short and long run businesses will benefit from employing eco-friendly programs, like filtering the air and using toxic free compounds.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, the director of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Commercial Interiors program of the United States Green Building Council, said that in the last year she had seen more interest from companies, like banks and retailers, in demonstrating their commitment to the environment. MAiSPACE, since 1993, has been a fervent advocate and supporter of environmental initiatives and programs. Our paint, lacquer, and office furniture are all made from materials that are free of toxic chemicals and do not emit strong chemical odors. We use eco-friendly paint, non-toxic wood glue and water-based, no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) lacquers. At MAiSPACE, we adopt a human-centered approach to workplace design that takes its cues from employees, and we manufacture individual workstations with advanced technologies like individual control of temperature, sound, lighting, and ventilation systems.
