How To Deal With Office Allergies At Work

With seasonal allergies just around the corner, it's important to be prepared for the onslaught of sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. In Singapore, approximately one in three people suffer from nasal allergy symptoms. Allergic reactions can range from common symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose, to more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis.

If you are one of the many people who suffer from office allergies, there are a few things that you can do to help reduce your symptoms. Here we provide some tips on how to reduce office allergies, and how to manage allergies at work.

 

How to Reduce Office Allergies: Tips for Employees

There are a few simple things that you can do to help reduce your symptoms of office allergies. Here are our top tips!

 

 Keep Your Work Area Clean and Tidy

 One of the best ways to reduce your exposure to allergens is to keep your work area clean and tidy. Dust mites, pet dander, and pollen are all common allergens that can be found in the workplace. So make sure to regularly dust and sweep your work area, and try to keep clutter to a minimum.

 

Use a Humidifier

A humidifier can help to increase the moisture level in the air, which can help to reduce your symptoms of office allergies. Ensure to clean the humidifier regularly, as bacteria and mold can grow if it is not cleaned correctly.

 

 Keep Your Windows Closed 

Reduce your exposure to allergens by keeping windows closed when pollen counts are high. If that's not possible, keep air circulating in the room without overdoing it, so you don't get a draft or catch a cold.

 

Talk to Your Boss About Your Allergies

If you are finding that your allergies are impacting your work, talk to your boss about it. There may be some measures that can be put in place to help reduce your exposure to allergens at work.

For example, you could try working from home on days when the pollen count is high. Or, your boss could hire commercial cleaners to dust and sweep your work area regularly. This will help to keep your exposure to allergens at a minimum and help you stay productive at work.

 

Take Care of Any Plants

If there are plants in the workplace, make sure they are watered regularly and kept healthy. We all know that plants purify the air. So unless they've been inside for a long time, there's a good chance the pollen count will be low.

 Regularly removing topsoil, which inhibits the growth of mould, will also assist in reducing the chance of mould developing.

 

Put Your Coats Away

Make sure your coats are hung up or put away whenever you come back inside. This will help to reduce the amount of house dust mites that settle on them overnight and transfer them into work areas when you wear them again in the morning. It's also a good idea to disinfect garments regularly with anti-bacterial detergent if they're shared between you and your colleagues.

 Hanging coats and jackets in a separate room, or even away from the main working area, can help to reduce the number of allergens that are brought into work.

 

How to Reduce Office Allergies: Tips for Employers

 

If you are an employer, there are a few simple things that you can do to help reduce your employees' exposure to allergens. Let's dive in a little deeper!

 

Communicate With Your Employee!

This may be the most apparent, since your employees are more aware than anyone of what might make them feel more supported and what particular changes they may require or demand.

 

Some people with severe allergies may require a separate room in order to work, or certain accommodations like an air purifier. Some may even have action plans for use should an allergen be detected in their area. With this in mind, checking in with them is always a good idea.

 

 Take Office Allergies Seriously

If you are an employer and someone has approached to discuss allergies, it's essential to take their health concerns seriously. Allergies can be very debilitating and, if left untreated, can worsen over time. Implementing some of the suggestions listed here will help to create a more allergy-friendly workplace for all employees.

 

 Keep the Office Clean

 

By hiring a professional cleaning service in Singapore, you can ensure that the office is kept clean and free of allergens. Professional cleaners can dust work surfaces, sweep floors, and vacuum carpets regularly to help keep the air fresh.

 

In addition to this, you can also encourage all employees to keep their personal work areas clean and tidy. A messy desk is a breeding ground for dust mites, which are often associated with allergies.

 

Hiring professional cleaners will help you reduce the number of allergens in your office space, so everyone feels more comfortable at work!

 

 Allergy Contracts

This may appear harsh, but it would make it clear to the employee what the employer was doing to accommodate his or her allergy, as well as reaffirm that an employee still has a role in their own responsibility, such as carrying an Epipen and adopting safety precautions. This tip may be particularly beneficial if an employee only recently learned they had an allergy.

 

Personal Space

Where an allergy is of a certain severity, it may be worth considering if the employee could work from home for a period of time, or another private or remote workspace. Then, they would still be able to perform their role without exposure and irritation.

 

Strong Ventilation

One of the most important things you can do to reduce allergies in the office is to ensure your workplace is well ventilated. This will help keep allergens from circulating through the air and causing problems for everyone, not just those with a sensitivity.

 

Conclusion

 It's crucial that employers take office allergies seriously and make changes to accommodate employees who suffer from them. However, it's just as important that employees are understanding and communicative about what they need in order to work comfortably.

Implementing some of the tips above can help to create a more allergy-friendly workplace for all, and everyone can feel more comfortable and healthy at work!

 Thank you for reading! We hope this article has been helpful. For professional cleaning services in Singapore, click here.