Sick building syndrome, or SBS, is “used to characterize instances in which building occupants have acute health and comfort consequences that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific ailment or cause can be determined,” per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In other words, a building could be the cause of your illness. Discover the causes of sick building syndrome and its warning signals with the help of the pros at Joliet Commercial Cleaners.
Sick-Building Syndrome signs and symptoms
Some people might believe that their SBS is just a virus. On the other hand, if you have a cold, a virus, or any disease of a similar nature, your symptoms will follow you everywhere—from home to work and back again. If you have SBS, you can expect your symptoms to go away fast once you leave the area. As you spend more time outside the building, you’ll begin to feel better. A great post.
The symptoms of the sick-building syndrome can be one symptom, a collection of symptoms, or they can even vary daily. Sometimes a coworker will have one SBS symptom while you have another. These are a few of the symptoms of sick-building syndrome:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- either coughing or experiencing chest pain
- Nausea
- muscular ache and fatigue
- fever sick throat
- eye discomfort
- Unable to pay attention, a tendency to notice odors, a skin rash, bleeding noses, stuffy noses, or congestion
No matter what mix of symptoms your employees have, being ill because of the environment could have an adverse effect on performance. A National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) analysis claims that SBS can, in fact, decrease productivity and, in certain cases, increase absenteeism. If the number of sick days has recently increased, think about the building as a potential perpetrator.
Occupational Sick Building Syndrome Prevention
You may help prevent SBS in your establishment by being aware of some of the causes of sick building syndrome. According to the EPA, sick building syndrome can have a variety of causes and contributing factors. Several of the SBS causes are listed below:
- not enough ventilation
- biological pollutants, such as bacteria, and mold, can be found in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Take the following actions to reduce the possibility that SBS will spread throughout your workplace:
- Speed up the ventilation.
- Clean and maintain HVAC systems on a regular basis.
- Use high-load HVAC filters, and change them periodically.
- Replace water-damaged ceiling tiles to prevent the formation of mold and mildew.
- If a carpet looks to be flooded, replace it.
- Clean all tile and grout frequently to stop the growth of mold.
- Clear the area of all animal waste, including rat, bird, and bug droppings.
Improving office air quality by lowering the number of dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and other allergens is another method for easing sick building syndrome symptoms. Furthermore, regular cleanings may keep the business looking spotless and inviting for customers and employees alike.
The end result is that a clean facility is a health facility. Employee morale can be raised, sick days can be decreased, and even productivity can rise with a clean environment. If you suspect that there may be issues in your building that could contribute to the symptoms of sick building syndrome, contact the professionals at Joliet Commercial Cleaners. We offer a selection of services to fit your particular needs and hectic schedule. Since we’re committed to providing the greatest standards of cleaning each time we work, we’re happy to help you raise the bar for your facility.
