| One of the main causes of illness in the workforce | | | | can be supported by the fact that the majority of |
| today is known as sick building syndrome and it is | | | | people who claim to have sick building syndrome are |
| responsible for thousands of days off work sick each | | | | often in good health when they away from the building |
| year. Sick building syndrome is not a problem that is | | | | and only become ill again their return. |
| just confined to the United States, it is beginning to be | | | | If poorly maintained ventilation systems are to blame |
| recognized all over the world as more and more | | | | for these illnesses then it is important that something is |
| people are feeling the effects of being in a poorly | | | | done about them. Dirty ventilation systems can be the |
| ventilated building. | | | | cause of many different types of illness as mold |
| Some of the symptoms of sick building syndrome are: | | | | spores can grow and multiply and they are then blown |
| indoor allergies, itchy eyes and nose, runny nose, sore | | | | through air ducts right to where people are working. |
| throat, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, | | | | This then results in them being ill as the air that they |
| fatigue and difficulty when concentrating for any period | | | | are breathing is not fresh and purified. Mold spores are |
| of time. Some people believe that these symptoms | | | | not just to blame, if rodents get into the air ducts they |
| are purely psychological however if you are suffering | | | | can cause problems as can a build up of general dirt |
| like this you will argue that it is very real. Imagine what | | | | and debris, so they should be cleaned regularly. |
| it would feel like to start to feel ill within minutes of | | | | So really it would be fair to say that sick building |
| entering your place of work each day and find that | | | | syndrome does exist but only where there are dirty |
| you get worse as the day progresses. | | | | ventilation systems that are not kept up to standard. If |
| Experts have put forward different reasons for this | | | | you suspect the air ducts and ventilation system in a |
| sick building syndrome from outside influences such as | | | | building are dirty is it important that it is brought to the |
| person's general health or family life, an illness epidemic | | | | attention of someone who is responsible for them. |
| and other viral infections. However these do not take | | | | Your local HVAC technician can provide a |
| into account the fact that more and more people are | | | | comprehensive maintenance service that will ensure |
| falling ill and all have one thing in common - they all | | | | that ventilation systems are kept clean and running |
| work in the same building. | | | | efficiently, reducing the number of sick days and |
| Such buildings that seem to have high levels of | | | | keeping staff healthy. If this sounds like something that |
| sickness related to sick building syndrome tend to have | | | | your business could use, contact your local HVAC |
| poorly maintained ventilation and heating systems | | | | technician to help you improve your air quality. |
| which many people blame for their illness. This theory | | | | |