Sick Building Syndrome
I noticed half of the employees of the bank were absent. The other half looked like death warmed over.
“Something
was going around”, they said.
I went to the manager and asked him if he was aware of
‘Sick Building Syndrome’.
He made that little half-smile then realized I was serious.
Many offices are “sick”. It is not simply that one person
walks in with a cold and the office gets it, it is that
something is in the air filtration system which collects
diseases.
Too many places are hermetically sealed. Air is stagnant.
The air conditioner or heater cools or warms the stagnant
air. But the air is stagnant.
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to fight sick
building syndrome is to open the windows. You must
have windows that can open.
If this requires replacement of the windows, that
is what must be done. There must be a way to get fresh
air into the building.
Windows should be opened each morning by the domestic
staff. Whether it is one degree outside or one hundred.
Fresh air needs to circulate through out the building.
After fifteen minutes, if the weather is bad, an hour
or so if it is pleasant.
One can save a lot of money on air conditioning or heating
when one doesn’t use it. You must be able to control your
environment.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted
every year by companies who run air conditioner when an
open window would be enough. Others turn into saunas.
Opening the windows each morning should be partnered with
opening them each day just before the employees leave.
If the weather is very bad, then it is the cleaning staff
which must open the windows to let the day’s air escape
and new air enter.
Yes, clean your air filters and vents. Have your cleaners
use bleach cut with water to wipe all surfaces they can.
This is a very cheap very useful way to kill germs.
But fresh air is the key combatant in the war against
sick building syndrome.?
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