Creating a Healthy Workplace
The Unhealthy Workplace
Unfortunately, many people work in unhealthy environments. It has been estimated that most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, often in synthetic environments filled with chemicals and poor lighting that compromise their health. For example, many of today's furnishings and other office materials contain numerous toxins. The glues used to hold together pressed wood furniture and building materials, adhere laminated surfaces to furniture and keep floors and carpets in place often contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the air over time. Paints, particularly those that are oil-based, can be another source of toxins in the workplace. The toxins emitted from carpets, furniture, and plastics through "offgassing" can create a variety of health problems in anyone exposed to them. Other toxic materials include cleansers (bathroom, kitchen, wall, and carpet), chemicals used in manufacturing processes, perfumes, and pesticides.
Creating a Healthy Workplace
While you may not be able
to avoid all the toxic chemicals in your workplace, there are a number of steps
you can take throughout the office to reduce
your exposure to harmful chemicals.
Mandate a smoke-free workplace. Smoke-free policies improve air quality and reduce secondhand smoke
exposure. Eliminating smoking in indoor
spaces protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoke-free
workplace policies are the only effective way to ensure that secondhand smoke
exposure does not occur in the workplace. Separating smokers from nonsmokers,
cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of
nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.
Work with your office supply distributor
to find healthier alternatives to conventional products. These can include
everything from non-chlorine-bleached paper (organochlorines are highly
hazardous) to non-toxic markers and correction fluid.
Create workplace policies that require non-toxic cleaning supplies be used by janitorial services. Many of the products used to clean contain harmful chemicals such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, petrochemicals, and VOC's. Not only is physical contact with toxic cleaning products a concern, but breathing the fumes of some chemicals, especially over time, can be damaging to your health. In addition, small amounts of residual product can be left on surfaces or in the air following cleaning, adversely affecting air quality. When renovating or building new, be sure to pay attention to:
- Building Materials
- Carpets and Flooring
- Cleaners
- Lighting Design
- Employee Workstation Comfort
- Electro-magnetic Fields
- Furnishings
- Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
- Quality Lawn Care and Landscaping
- Office Supplies
- Paints and Wallcoverings
- Pest Control
- Radon
- Stress
- Water Quality
Taking the time to choose the least toxic alternative when renovating or building new can significantly impact chemical exposure in the workplace.
By carrying out these simple steps, you can create a healthier office, improve employee morale, and save money for your company.
