A healthy place to work
A lot of us spend most of our waking days at the office.
More than a place to work, the office serves as our “home away from home”—the base we return to after client meetings, site visits and other field activities. We also enjoy simple moments here with our officemates, such as drinking coffee or taking a lunch break.
The office is a place that we ought to enjoy, regardless of the work we do in it or the people we share it with.
That being said, not all offices are created equal. Some offices are designed to relax you and help you focus, while others can actually make you sick.
How can you tell if an office has been made with your health and welfare in mind? Better yet, what steps can you take to make your office a comfortable place to stay in, even comparable to your own home?
The right environment
While we may not always have a say in where we will work, it is important for us to know what a healthy office environment is.
The ideal workplace gives us enough ventilation to avoid stale air. It also provides enough daylight to illuminate our tasks and provide a bright atmosphere while we work.
Our workplace should be free of chemical irritants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) usually found in furniture, carpeting and cleaning products. It should also be free of mold, bacteria and other pathogens that can make us sick.
Lastly, the temperature and humidity inside the building should be comfortable enough for us to be efficient.
Sick building syndrome
Even if you are not aware of what makes up a healthy building, you will surely feel the effects of an unhealthy one.
Sick building syndrome (SBS) is an ailment wherein a person experiences unexplained symptoms that stop when he or she leaves a particular building. The World Health Organization (WHO) led the talks on this condition in 1984, when it created an official guide on assessing indoor air quality.
Symptoms of this ailment include skin irritation, headaches, rashes and other aggravations similar to an allergy. Fatigue, brain fog and even nausea can also result from this unusual discomfort. One or more people can feel the effects of SBS at the same time if they share the same space for hours.
Thankfully, these symptoms usually go away once you leave the building.
Why offices often cause SBS
SBS is common among office workers, especially those with limited access to natural ventilation.
With most of us spending eight or more hours in enclosed office quarters, the ailment is the body’s way of telling us it needs some fresh air and a change of scenery.
The stark, artificial environment of an office has a negative effect on our bodies if the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems do not work properly or if there is pollution contaminating the air.
General solutions
To cure a building of its “sickness,” its indoor air quality must be thoroughly improved. Air circulation should be encouraged by opening windows, installing exhausts or fixing broken ventilation systems.
Cleaning products, furniture or paint finishes that contain VOCs and other harmful chemicals should be removed from the site and replaced with alternatives that are more natural.
Moldy materials should also be eliminated and replaced promptly. Indoor smoking should also be banned on the building premises.
The HVAC system of the building should also be assessed by a professional group to determine if it is working efficiently. Air cleaners may also be installed to clear the air of airborne pollutants. Examples of these are air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters that reduce allergens in the air.
Personal relief
Of course, if you are an office worker and have no control over building systems, you cannot easily apply all the general solutions against SBS.
For some personal relief, you should take frequent breaks out in the open air. If possible, take short walks to strengthen your lungs and give them a little activity over lunchtime. Stop smoking and vaping too.
You can also take care of some indoor plants on your desk to improve your personal space. Plants help balance humidity, boost mood and remove airborne pollutants. Some recommended plants are the spider plant, dracaena, peace lily and Boston fern.
Take note that while greenery helps improve air quality, you would need tons of it to match artificial air cleaners like an air purifier.
The takeaway
Overall, the office is an essential place where we spend many hours earning our livelihoods. It should be a place where we can feel comfortable and healthy.
If you and many of your officemates feel unusually ill inside your office, maybe it’s time to alert the management to the possibility of SBS in your work vicinity. Even if general measures cannot be taken up to counter SBS, you can make personal changes to your environment to improve your working area and air quality.
Take care of your office as you would take care of your home. Even in an urban setting, you have to ensure that your health and wellness are prioritized so you can perform your work to the best of your abilities.
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. www.healthline.com; Sasha Kim, cottonbro studio, Declan Wright, Towfiqu barbhuiya via pexels.com
