You may not believe it. Allergies are one of the top reasons employees miss work, negatively impacting their overall productivity in the process. Think about it. Having to sneeze and wheeze all day sure is a nuisance and a distraction for everyone when working. Therefore, it is paramount that employers take these things into serious consideration: a healthy environment for their workers’ well-being. To not only prevent further absences but to maximize productivity.
According to research, 95% of people with allergies experienced symptoms in their workplaces, such as headaches and skin irritation. More often than not, this is because pollen, dust mites, and mold are trapped in poorly ventilated buildings. And it triggers allergies, making it a lot harder to work and is affecting your team’s performance.
People who are sensitive to allergens know what to avoid in an environment they control, like their home. But, the workplace is out of their control. And they may be suffering in silence. As an employer, it is vital to ensure a safe working environment, be it an industrial facility, a school, or the four corners of an office. Here are ways to get it started.
Regular Office Cleaning
As a business owner, you should employ staff to maintain your office or building. And they most likely have to remove trash daily and clean the area. This basic cleaning alone can help in removing some allergens in your office. But it’s not the most effective.
To have an effective allergen cleaning, you should provide them with disposable dusters. This is to remove and trap particles that your staff has collected in areas like shelves, door frames, and cabinet tops. Also, invest in vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter with the purpose to capture allergens. And don’t forget to mop hard floors for allergens to get flushed out of the building.
Regular HVAC Maintenance
On average, we spend 90% of the time indoors, where pollutants are up to five times higher than the outside. Thus, we’re more likely to develop allergies indoors. An HVAC system provides comfort in our homes and at work. But it is also a magnet to many allergens and pollutants if not taken care of. It may be clean when it’s new, but it certainly won’t be as time goes by.
In this regard, you should consider contacting a duct cleaning service now and then. These experts have the experience and the tools of the trade to remove and clean allergen buildup. Maintaining your HVAC system can not only help your employees breathe healthy air; it also saves you money in the long run.
Encourage Your Team to Have an Allergy Test
Knowing what triggers your allergies is the key to managing them in the future. While most of the time, it’s easy to figure out what allergies you have, it’s still better to be sure. Asthma can be life-threatening, and it leads to many deaths annually.
That’s why having your employees get an allergy test is important to prevent them from getting sick. For example, one might think that their allergies stem from the dust and mold in the building. But in actuality, it’s cat hair that’s causing the allergic symptoms.
A certified allergy specialist can easily determine what mold, pollen, and other substances you and your employees are allergic to. It can be performed through a skin test, elimination diet, and a blood test. And if you do have one, they may provide you with medications that can help treat your allergy.
Allergies can be prevented with proper allergy care. And it’s important to prioritize your employees’ health, as it greatly impacts how well they work.
