Staff members calling in sick can be a disaster for any business especially for a small business that doesn’t have enough manpower to cover an absent employee’s workload. Though your business establishment is one of the top sources, there are countless scenarios that lead to your employees getting ill. Among other issues, lack of efficient cleaning can result in the spread of germs. Once they leave for the day or weekend the symptoms clear up, the workplace could be what’s making them sick, employees sharing identical symptoms such as itchy eyes, sinus infection, or headaches while they are working in the office. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is what we at AAA Cleanco would like to discuss today.

What is Sick Building Syndrome

A condition where symptoms of illness or feeling sick for no obvious reason are being experienced by occupants in the same building is sick building syndrome. The symptoms can be more severe among the people that spend more time in the building, but then show improvement while they are away from it, often linked to the time spent on the building. With other building-related illness, sick building syndrome shouldn’t be confused. While SBS is used as a general term when people are undergoing different symptoms, building-related illness describes the patients experiencing allergic reactions and symptoms.

Symptoms of House or Sick Building Syndrome

– Stuffy nose
– Sore throat
– Fatigue
– Dry cough
– Common Symptoms Of SBS
– Sneezing
– Poor concentration/memory
– Muscle pain
– Headaches

Causes of Sick Building Syndrome

Poor Ventilation: Usually, older buildings have poor air ventilation. Carbon monoxide and other harmful elements like benzene and styrene produce bacteria and dangerous microorganisms to circulate indoors that then attacks the respiratory that manifests visible signs of ailment.
For every person in the building back in the early 1900s, the standard building ventilation was about 15 cubic feet per minute of outdoor air. To reduce and eliminate body odors, this was implemented primarily. Cutting it to 5 cfm of outside air per person in the 1973 with oil embargo, the standards changed. Poor ventilation can be the reason that cause SBS.
Exterior Chemical Contaminants: Exterior pollutants, such as exhaust and plumbing vapors can still enter the office if your intake vents are poorly situated. Also, windows and other openings can let these pollutants in. Combustion items can get inside a building from nearby garages as well.
Indoor Chemical Contaminants: The volatile organic compounds can circulate inside and affect the health of your office workers due to cleaning agents and carpeting. Environmental cigarette smoke emits high levels of volatile organic compounds, causing acute health problems and even cancer.
Contaminants, Biological in Nature: Mildews, molds, germs, and other viruses may grow in stagnant water that has been collected in drain pans, humidifiers, or any place where water has accumulated. A few symptoms linked to biological contamination include tightening of the chest, fever, and muscle pains.

Residential Home Cleaning, Housekeepers, Maid Services, Janitorial & More in Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Banning, Coachella Valley & Riverside County California

Call us today to schedule your residential house cleaning and/or commercial building cleaning services with the help of AAA Cleanco, you can prevent a lot of the sources that cause sick building syndrome.