Sick Building Syndrome

How many of us coming back home from long hour at office experience headache or feel little dizzy after sitting for a while at a computer.

"Countless people are going about their daily lives at work feeling sick, thinking it's just stress or another factor in their lives, when in actuality it's a serious condition known as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)."

SYMPTOMS OF SBS;

1. Headache
2. Eye, nose or throat irritation
3. Dry cough
4. Dry or itchy skin
5. Dizziness and nausea
6. Fatigue
7. Sensitivity to odours

CAUSES OF SBS.

Contributing factors can often relate to the design of the built environment and may include

combinations of some or all of the following:

1. Indoor air pollution (e.g. cigarette smoke, *my office always polluted with cigar smoke)
2. Artificial fragrance such as dryer sheets
3. Poor or inappropriate lighting (including limited access to natural sunlight.)
4. Poor air-conditioning system or ventilation
5. Bad acoustics (noise absorbers)
6. Poorly designed furnishings, furniture and
7. equipment (computer monitors, photocopiers)
8. Poor ergonomics (eg. office lay outs)
9. Chemical or biological contamination

*ARTICLE EXTRACT FROM OSHE Bulletin July 2008 written by Assoc. Prof. Abdul Shukor Abdullah.

INFO: The TONER used in the photocopying process when released into the air may affect your lung when constantly breathed in (as it is a ‘carcinogenic’ matter).