ABC of Safety in the Biological Sciences
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS) FACT OR FICTION?
CONSTANT HEADACHES? FEELING TIRED? ITCHY EYES? IS YOUR BUILDING SICK?
Doubts over the existence of SBS have been expressed since the phrase was first used in the late 1970’s. It was in 1976 at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia that hundreds of delegates suddenly became ill, some violently. Twenty-nine subsequently died. Legionnaires’ disease and other building-related illnesses suddenly, were front-page topics.Legionnaires’, of course, is easy to diagnose, the symptoms are consistent and the organism relatively easy to detect. However, other building-related illnesses are more difficult to determine and to uncover.
The World Health Organisation defines 'Sick Building Syndrome' (SBS) as "a range of non specific symptoms which can affect a significant number of building occupants.
Symptoms include:
Now take that same concept to your hospital or laboratory. Except add a few more factors like fumes from fixation, processing, staining, copying machines, the truck passing by outside - bacteria and fungi in air conditioning ducts, dust, aerosols from opened specimen containers and those produced by ill patients all circulating in the air conditioning system. Common sense tells us this cocktail is a recipe for disaster.
Specific attention has focussed on a range of potential causative agents such as:
microbiological factors (as in Legionnaires disease, Pontiac fever, endotoxins from moulds)
immunological factors (as in occupational asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
ergonomic factors (such as excessive noise and inappropriate lighting)
environmental pollution (for example from tobacco smoke)
psychological factors (such as conflict)
air conditioning factors
There is a view that symptoms are merely indications of stress. For example when suffered by a number of people in the one workplace others may become anxious eventually leading to mass psychogenic illness. Perhaps.
Whatever the cause the existence of such symptoms indicates that conditions in many workplaces are below standard leading to a range of disorders. Various factors have been implicated in SBS and these include ventilation, temperature and air movement, humidity, air borne pollution, biological contamination and work related stress.
What can we do to prevent debilitating symptoms?
Some of the steps, which can be taken to prevent or control SBS, which have been suggested, are:
Where SBS has been identified it is important to consider: firstly, not closing the workplace because it becomes subsequently difficult to re-open, secondly, limiting the number of consultants brought into the investigation to reduce the possibility of conflicting opinions and finally involving all affected parties in decision making and discussion to alleviate anxiety.
Identifying and treating the causes of SBS will result in higher staff morale and greater productivity from a reduction in sickness, workers compensation and medical costs.
References
1 |
Health Risk Management Unit. Health Risks. South Australian Health Commission. South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide, Australia. 1992 |
2 |
World Health Organisation. Laboratory Biosafety Manual 1983. Geneva. 1983 |
3 |
Do indoor air quality remedied cure sick buildings? A case study. J occ health and safety. 1997:13; 4. |
4 |
Realty Times. 1999. Internet – http://realtimes.com |
5 |
Sick building syndrome. Fact Sheet no 4. Unites States Environmental Protection Authority. 1999 |
6 |
Paul Woelk. Recognizing an outbreak of building sickness. University of Kansas. 1999 – http://energy.arce.ukans.edu |
7 |
Steven Ruggerio. Anatomy of a sick building. Progressive Architecture. 1994; 82-86 |
8 |
Marcia Sawnor. Avoiding sick building syndrome – http://www.isdesignet.com |
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