Aesthetics at heart of being sick at work

Syndrome has workers ill while at the office, and recovering when at home

It may present itself as the flu at first – with an accompanying headache, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and tight chest – symptoms which may suddenly disappear when you get home and reappear when you arrive back at work the next day.

For others, the condition may be a bit more serious, with symptoms including dizziness, nausea, irritation of the eyes, nose, skin, throat and coughing plus sensitivity to certain odours and tastes.

Known as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), it is defined by the The National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) as acute health effects which are linked directly to the time spent in a particular building.

According to the website, there is no specific illness or cause that can be identified, and complainants may feel the symptoms in either a specific room within the building or it could be throughout the entire building.

Graham Anderson, CEO of the medical aid scheme Profmed, said many people were unaware of the condition or did not believe in its existence. According to Anderson, when employees start feeling sick at work, many seek medical help and take a couple of days off because they believe they are coming down with the flu.

“However, with SBS, the symptoms dissipate when you leave the building,” he said.

“According to Human Capital Review, on an annual basis, South Africa loses approximately R19bn due to absenteeism. If companies are able to eliminate SBS, there will likely be a dramatic drop in the number of sick days employees take and therefore a decline in the amount of money the South African economy loses.”

Anderson said SBS was caused primarily by inadequate ventilation.

“This is why it is essential to have a properly operating ventilation system. Make sure to contact your building management to inquire how regularly the ventilation systems are serviced, as buildings that haven’t been well maintained could be a major contributor to SBS,” he said, adding that offices with dark and drab paint schemes, in conjunction with confined working spaces, could also cause some employees to develop SBS.

East London-based Dr Janine Kirby says another issue could be that we do not pay enough attention to the aesthetics of a building.

Kirby said there were some spaces – with natural light, flowing air and plants – which left people feeling well and happy.

“While other buildings with no windows, artificial lighting and poor air quality will make us feel unwell,” she said.

Anderson suggested ways to avoid SBS such as ensuring there are open windows in the office, not eating at desks, placing a pot plant on the desk, keeping the lights on or the blinds open, and washing hands regularly.