OFFICE STAFFS ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO DISEASES

Dust and parasites from the desktop which you often have a contact with are key agents directly causing blocked nose, sneezing, skin rash and eye irritation.

Office staff are more vulnerable to respiratory diseases.

Nowadays, working in buildings or skyscrapers has become a popular trend leading to an increase of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), frequently seen in those spending a prolonged period of time there. SBS includes a series of symptoms such as allergies, asthma and muscle strain.

Though SBS cannot cause any acute dangers/hazards like other diseases, it isn’t actually a trivial matter, warned Yourhealth’s experts. Many studies showed that the most unlikely things in your working place- even your chair- can be responsible for unexpected health hazards.

Dust

Dust and parasites from the desktop which you often have a contact with are key agents directly causing blocked nose, sneezing, skin rash and eye irritation. A large amount of dust accumulated on your computer screen can decrease its sharpness which forces your eyes to overwork during work. Thereby, it leads to eye fatigue. In the long run, you might get chronic diseases such as asthma, sinus congestion and allergies.

Solutions: Frequently clean your working place such as tables and chairs, especially the desktop and bookshelves. Carpets and curtains in the office need to be replaced every 10 years. It is suggested to use wet vacuum cleaners instead of traditional dry vacuum cleaners because they pick up dust more effectively than dry ones.

Light

If there’s sunlight directly hitting your computer screen, the reflected light will force your eyes to work harder to focus, causing eyes dryness and tiredness. Those working late at night under artificial lights may experience the effects of over- illumination- restricted production of melatonin, a kind of sleep hormone, disrupting your normal sleep. Overtime, this could trigger migraines, stress, fatigue and anxiety.

Solutions: Relax your eyes for a minute or two every 45 minutes of working. If you still have to squint, remember to reduce your screen brightness.

Chemicals

Being unrecognizable to the naked eye, ozone leaking out from printers and fax machines are the most dangerous chemicals in the office. Furthermore, office staffs have been facing with a series of carcinogenic chemicals from dishwashing detergents. Inhaling too much during a short period of time can cause dizziness, hemiopalgia, reduction in blood concentration. In the long run, these harmful chemicals can damage your central nervous system.

Solutions: Keep away from printers if not necessary, leave the doors or windows open for ventilation. Avoid the areas which have been cleaned by detergents at least 15 minutes before use.

Poor ventilation

Your office windows sealed combining with sitting under air-conditioner all the time are extremely dangerous to all staffs in your office.  This can lead to shortness of breath, dry throat, cough, itchy eyes and skin rash.

Solutions: Place a small fan on your working table for air circulation. Avoid setting the air-conditioner at low degrees. Clean the ducts and filters of the air conditioner every two months.

Sizes of chairs

Many studies showed that a safe sitting posture must be 15 centimeters of space between your knees and the edge of your seat. The greater space means you are totally using an inappropriate chair. You tend to move forward and sit at the edge of an oversized chair, which means you have difficulty taking a backrest, causing neck and elbow fatigue. Overtime, this can lead to chronic neck problems, lower back pain and muscle aches.

Solutions: Check your chair as the standard above. The distance from your chair to your desk is far enough so that your elbows remain close to your body. At least half of your right arm has to be placed on the desk. It is advisable to put a soft pad under your hand to avoid numbness.

Untidy desk

Stretching your body to catch items means that you might strain your shoulders. Hereby, repeated strain can cause neck, shoulder, and elbow pains, hand numbness and reduction in the flexibility of fingers.

Solutions: Arrange your working table in order and place items that you frequently use close to you so they can be easily reached.