Dealing With Office Allergies at Work

 

Allergies have a massive effect upon people in everyday life and our partner’s research in the US estimate around 50 million Americans suffer from Allergies. We need to bear this in mind when considering what impact these allergies can have at work and more importantly how we can reduce this for our employees. So here at ServiceMaster Mercia we wanted to share a few of our tips to help deal with allergies

Common Workplace Allergies

Indoor/outdoor allergies also known as seasonal allergies are one of the most common type suffered by people, whether working in an office, warehouse, retail establishment, factory or other work space. Other common workplace allergies include contact, such as an allergy to latex and eye allergies. Occupational asthma is another common workplace issue and usually develops when a worker has a sensitivity to something regularly inhaled in the work space (fumes, chemicals.)

Allergy Triggers

Many office allergy triggers are the same ones that affect you at home. These include but are not limited to:

  • Dust mites
  • Pollen
  • Mold spores
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Fumes (from aerosols, chemicals, cleaning agents)
  • Perfume and other scented products
  • Animal dander

Even if your office is smoke-free, residual smoke that lingers on a co-worker who has smoked a cigarette during a break can trigger a reaction if you’re sensitive to this allergen. The same can happen to people who suffer allergies from exposure to perfumes and animal dander, especially cat dander. If a particular co-worker wears a perfume or scent that aggravates your allergies, avoid that person’s desk. If you have to work closely together on a project, you may opt to politely mention your allergy.

Reducing Allergies

There are easy ways to reduce your office allergy triggers. The first step is to identify the allergens that affect you most significantly. Once you know what triggers yours, you can take steps to reduce your exposure. Try these tips for reducing your office allergies:

  • Wipe your work area (all hard surfaces) daily with a disinfectant wipe
  • If you vacuum your work space, wear a mask
  • Run a dehumidifier if your office has high humidity to reduce risk of mold growth
  • Make sure your work space is well ventilated
  • Wash your hands after working with co-workers who have pets to avoid transferring any pet dander to your clothes, skin or face

The best way to deal with them in the office or any other work environment is to eliminate as many allergens as possible. A regular commercial office clean by ServiceMaster Mercia can remove many of the allergens that affect workers helping to improve the condition and health of your work environment. for further information on our services click here