HOW (un)HEALTHY IS YOUR WORKPLACE?

There are hidden dangers surrounding us everyday, what we breath, touch and consume effects our health.

Here are some odd and interesting health hazards to consider within your work environment. Some are speculative, but it does get you thinking. I am just covering over the topics, so do your own google research into it to determine your own opinion on these observations.

1) Your kettle, are you reboiling the same water over and over again?

The reason for this danger is that when water is boiled, its chemical makeup is changed, which initially is a good thing; germs are killed. However, when reboiling occurs the dissolved gases and minerals that have been chemically changed become toxic. The chemical alterations cause deleterious health effects from arsenic, nitrates and fluoride. Even minerals that are good for us in smaller amounts, such as calcium salts, can become quite harmful when they amass due to reboiling. This can lead to kidney stones and gallstones. Nitrates turn into nitrosamines when ordinary water is reboiled, making them carcinogenic. Also make sure your pipes at work are safe- maybe you work in an old-school building, there may be dangers lurking. Be weary of office water dispensary's and fountains and ensure the plastic bottles are BPA free.

What to do? Have pipes and water quality tested, avoid reboiling water and just fill the kettle to the required amount for your personal use.

2) Glass windows- large floor to ceiling glass windows can cause melanoma!?

You are not safe behind glass as windows do not filter UVA. Make sure you protect your skin with sun protective clothing or sunscreen if you sit behind a window and close the blind if possible in peak hours of sunlight (10am-4pm). In fact, having an uneven balance of the UVA rays without the UVB is being researched as a primary cause of melanomas!

What to do? Keep windows open to allow the balanced uv rays to come through natural and wear sunscreen, or get windows tinted by professionals to block out all uv rays.

3) ASBESTOS and Harmful Building Products!

Did you know many buildings actually contain asbestos, even new builds surprisingly (one on collins st docklands which was recently in the news) If you are in an old-school cool funky warehouse- there may be dangers lurking in your cracks of your walls!

What to do? Have an inspection done on any new office rental and steer clear of those with any asbestos to be safe, be weary of other toxic and unsafe building materials.

4) Handling Loads of Receipts!?

Did you know that one of the highest sources of BPA is not just your plastic water bottles, but receipts. BPA was originally a hormone used as a contraceptive for women, but as it was only 70% effective they took it off the market back in something like the 60's scientists rediscovered its use in plastics where it can make thin plastics tough and durable despite using less materials, be careful of ALL plastic products particularly in relation to food. Handling receipts often will alter your hormones!

What to do? Check your source of your receipts and what is covering the film, also try to minimise handling or use protection of your hands

5) Computer Screen, LED Light Bulbs and Eye Health!

It is pretty well a known fact that using computers often causes short-sightedness. Why? well your eyeballs are muscles, if they are constantly staring at one particular distance, and particularly into a light source (or leds ) then it changes the shape of your eyeball- which is why we get near or long sightedness. Be weary of blue lights or blue type screen displays or even blue light bulbs in the workplace.

What to do ? Purchase eye protective computer covers , do frequent eye exercises, remove any LED light sources in the building as LED's are proven to damage eyes.

other direct issues related- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.User Friendly Workstation.Computer Eye Strain.Computer Vision Syndrome.Repetitive Strain Injury.

6) OXYGEN and Air Quality!

Are you simply rebreathing everyone else's air or CO2 or are you inhaling toxic air? Ensure adequate circulation of fresh oxygen, don't keep windows open that lead onto main roads or carparks as carbon monoxide poisoning can occur even low doses, particularly be very careful if your building is above a carpark- this is proven to be a huge problem.

What to do? Avoid working near carparks or main roads, buy indoor plants (such as english ivy) that are known to emit high levels of oxygen and absorb co2, Keep good airflow and don't cram too many people in one area.

7)TOXIC OFFICE PRODUCTS

Avoid toxic cleaning products at work not only is it bad for our health but also terrible for our environment, is your toilet paper bleached? are your tissues bleached? is your hand soap full of harsh chemicals? is your dishwashing liquid natural or not? are the bathroom cleaners unhealthy to inhale or touch on the skin? is the fridge cleaned with toxic products? do you use and inhale ambi-purs which actually strip paint off surfaces? Do you spray the area with toxic perfumes? Whats used to clean your computer?

What to do? Look for organic, non toxic and environmentally safe products, don't just buy in bulk from overseas soaps etc to save on cost and risk staff health.

8) STAFF TREATS and CONSUMABLES!

Be weary of lollies and cakes using food dyes and artificial flavouring or sweeteners, for celebrations you should not have just cheap party food and soft drinks, try to have juices, fruits, cheese platters or other options that are more natural and nutritional, if you think of all your staff and how many birthdays there will be every year- these little sweet treats add up! Try to steer clear of providing biscuits and things that are not promoting an active healthy lifestyle.

What do do? Opt for healthy food options for celebrations, try to avoid frequent alcohol consumption and stick to naturally flavoured and sweetened products to have in the office.

others....Bullying , overworking, emissions from devices, mobile phone overuse, sleeplessness, trip hazards, safe commuting,

Got more? comment below!

Jessica Reesby- MD at REESBY PTY LTD

0403 233 518

info@reesby.com.au