Attacking Allergies

May 27, 2010
Written by: Julie Bosche, Filed in: Employee Health Programs

Ask anyone who suffers with allergies, and they’ll tell you that it can certainly make life difficult.

Maybe you have to avoid shellfish at all costs, or you live in fear of bees. Perhaps dust and pollen are your downfall, or pet dander keeps you from visiting friends with dogs and cats.

No matter what type of allergy you suffer from, finding a way to live with it and minimize its effects on your life is essential.

It’s possible to create a comfortable allergy-free zone in your own home, but what about other environments? What if, for example, you’re allergic to your workplace?

The average office environment may be a hotbed of allergy triggers. From pungent chemicals to mold in the ductwork to a co-worker’s aftershave, culprits can seek out and target unsuspecting office dwellers.

And because allergies can make people feel pretty miserable, proof of their allergy struggles may begin to show up in their job performance.

Who, after all, can concentrate on work when they’re contending with watery, burning eyes and a pounding headache? Maybe allergy-related fatigue threatens to crush their productivity.

It’s important to tackle the allergen problem before it takes over your office … and gets the best of your staff.

What you can do:

Remind employees to be considerate of others with regard to fragrances, limiting their use of scented toiletries during work hours.

Consider purchasing fragrance-free, natural products for the cleaning crew to use instead of harsh chemical cleansers.

Provide disinfectant wipes for employees to use on their desks to control dust buildup as well as kill germs that can make them sick.

Implement or enforce your office smoking ban or regulations to keep smoke from infiltrating the office airways.

Have the ventilation system checked out and address any problems that may be uncovered during the investigation.