Is Your Office at Risk of the Sick Building Syndrome?- Eldersburg, MD

Sick building syndrome, or SBS, is defined as "situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified," according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To put it another way, a structure could be making you sick. Find out what causes sick building syndrome and how to recognize the symptoms.

Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms

Some people mistakenly believe that their SBS is caused by a virus. If you have a cold, virus, or another similar ailment, however, your symptoms will follow you from home to work and everywhere in between. If you have SBS, you'll probably feel better as soon as you leave the building that's causing your symptoms. You'll start to feel better the longer you're away from the building.

Sick building syndrome symptoms can manifest as single symptoms, a combination of symptoms, or even vary from day to day. You may be experiencing one SBS symptom while a coworker is experiencing a different SBS symptom.

The following are some of the symptoms of sick building syndrome:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Cough with or without chest pain
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Eye irritation
• Skin rashes
• Nosebleeds, runny nose, or congestion
• Inability to concentrate
• Sensitivity to odors

Whatever symptoms your employees are experiencing, getting sick as a result of their work environment can have a negative impact on their performance. Indeed, according to a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), SBS can lower productivity and even increase absenteeism. If you've recently noticed an increase in sick days, it's time to look into the possibility that the building is to blame.

How To Prevent Sick Building Syndrome In Your Office

By identifying some of the sick building syndrome causes in your facility, you can help to prevent SBS. Sick building syndrome has a variety of causes and contributing factors, according to the EPA. SBS can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Inadequate ventilation
• Chemical contaminants from indoor or outdoor sources
• Biological contaminants, including mold and bacteria

Follow these steps to help prevent SBS from spreading throughout your workplace:

• Increase ventilation rates.
• Maintain and clean HVAC systems regularly.
• Use HVAC filters with high-load capacity and change the filters regularly.
• Replace water-stained ceiling tiles to remove potential mold and mildew.
• Replace carpet that appears to have water damage.
• Regularly clean all tile and tile grout to help eliminate mold growth.
• Remove all biological contaminants from the property, including insect, bird, and rodent droppings.

Another way to help reduce the symptoms of sick building syndrome is to improve office air quality by reducing the presence of dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and other allergens. Cleanings on a regular basis can help keep the facility looking fresh and welcoming for both customers and employees.

A clean facility is, at the end of the day, a healthy facility. You may be able to improve employee morale, reduce sick days, and even see an increase in productivity by creating a cleaner work environment. Contact Restoration 1 of Central Maryland if you're concerned that your facility may have issues that could contribute to sick building syndrome symptoms. We provide a wide range of services to accommodate your busy schedule and specific requirements. We're happy to assist you in meeting your facility's expectations, as we're dedicated to delivering the highest standards of cleanliness every time we work.