Is work hurting your health? Toxic moulds, killer stress, droning machines...they all take their toll

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http://www.chatelaine.com/read/work/work_health.html

Is work hurting your health?

Toxic moulds, killer stress, droning machines...they all take their toll.

shows how to take action

First published in Chatelaine's November 2000 issue.

©

see also:

Bad air | Address your stress | Workplace injuries | Noise pollution |

Happening health perks | Nap attack | Resources

Want a recipe for disaster? Mix toxic moulds, high levels of dust, carbon

dioxide and fibreglass together in a poorly ventilated courthouse in

Newmarket, Ont. The result? A toxic stew that Nassi, a 33-year-old

court registrar, and her co-workers worked in day after day. For two years,

Nassi endured constant fatigue and itchy irritated skin that no amount of

fresh air and exercise could cure. When construction began to expand the

courthouse this past February, things got really bad. Nassi's health

deteriorated to the point where she was gagging, nauseated and coughing up

black phlegm.

She wasn't alone. Val Erwin, a court reporter and union steward, collected

reports from co-workers about their symptoms in an attempt to shut down the

courthouse. The reports read like a medical encyclopedia: itchy eyes,

recurring nosebleeds, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. One co-worker even

left the building in an ambulance after she collapsed, unable to breathe,

outside the courtroom she had been working in. Another was in the middle of

lunch when a foul-smelling dime-size hunk of mould floated from an air vent

onto her perogies.

You would think that the courthouse would be closed down in a heartbeat.

Well, think again. The courthouse only closed at the end of June, a full

three months after the department of health was called in. It might not have

happened at all if not for increasing union and media pressure. Nassi's

advice to other women who find themselves in a sick workplace? " Listen to

what your body is telling you. Ask a lot of questions and don't be afraid to

stand up for yourself because nobody else will. "

Your symptoms don't have to be as severe as Nassi's to warrant action.

" Little things " such as bad air quality, stress, a poorly designed

workstation or noise pollution can take a heavy toll over time. " People are

concerned about being whistle-blowers or complainers, " says Ian Morton,

director of Pollution Probe's environmental health program in Toronto. Yet,

Canadian women are now working longer hours and are reporting more health

problems than ever before, according to Statistics Canada. The good news is

that many workplace health hazards are preventable. Read on to find out what

to look for and what to do.

http://www.chatelaine.com/read/work/work_health2.html

Bad air

Sometimes it's what you don't see that can hurt you the most. The air in

many work environments--including factories, retail outlets and home

offices--is chock-full of biological and chemical contaminants that can

cause headaches, nausea, respiratory infections, allergies and skin rashes.

Over the long term, exposure to moulds, chemicals and pesticides may

increase your risk of cancer and respiratory and nervous system damage. Even

overly perfumed co-workers may aggravate allergies and asthma. Bad

ventilation can also make you sluggish and impair concentration. In fact,

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls indoor air quality " one of

the top five environmental risks to public health of our time. " And women

may be most at risk from indoor air contaminants. " Most of the guidelines

have been based on adult male exposures and may not take into account the

vulnerabilities of women and other sensitive populations, " explains Morton.

It seemed there was nothing irregular, for example, about the monthly

application of pesticides in the Toronto nursing home where Balmer

worked. Over two and half years, however, Balmer's symptoms, including

headaches, aching joints and respiratory problems, steadily worsened until

she was incapable of working at all.

Today, Balmer is on Ontario disability support, unable to work but

determined to prevent other employees from experiencing similar chemical

injuries. In 1997, she launched an advocacy group called Research, Advocacy

and Information Network on Environmental Toxins to raise awareness about

toxic exposures from pesticides to cleansers. " The heart of the matter is

that the whole thing was preventable, " Balmer says passionately.

Yet, the science of environmental illness is still unclear. Some doctors say

that multiple chemical sensitivity, a hypersensitivity to chemicals after

exposure, isn't a real disease. Recent legislation in Halifax banning the

use of perfumed products in public indoor environments has also triggered

controversy.

Check your workplace for these common health hazards:

The checklist

Does your workplace have synthetic furniture, paints or carpets that give

off fumes?

Is there a basement garage or a smokers' corner just outside the building,

which can cause carbon monoxide and second-hand smoke to rise throughout?

Does building management use toxic pesticides and cleansers instead of

non-toxic products?

Are there old carpets and overwatered indoor plants, which can breed moulds?

Are air vents blocked, preventing air from flowing freely?

Does the air shut off at night and on the weekends, allowing contaminants to

accumulate?

What you can do

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, here's an action plan:

Speak to your supervisor and find out whether your business has an

occupational health and safety committee. These committees offer an

effective way to lobby management and building owners to reduce indoor air

problems and are mandatory in all provinces except Alberta, P.E.I.,

Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Start a committee at your company using the Canadian Centre for Occupational

Health and Safety's Health and Safety Committees Reference Guide (see

Resources, page 74).

If your bosses or building owners are stalling, pique their interest with

potential profits. Researchers at the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley

National Laboratory in California suggest that improving indoor air quality

could increase productivity in U.S. companies alone to the tune of $50

billion US.

resources

health & safety

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety at 1/800/263-8466 or

www.ccohs.ca/

indoor air quality

Health Canada at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehp/ehd/bch/air_quality/ indoor_air.htm

Canadians Against Pesticides at www.caps.20m.com

chemical toxins

Research, Advocacy and Information Network on Environmental Toxins at

1/888/231-1971

stress

Canadian Mental Health Association at 416/484-7750 or

www.cmha.ca/stresst.htm

Canadian Institute of Stress at 416/236-4218 or www.stresscanada.org/

Job Stress Network at www.workhealth.org/

injuries

Institute of Work and Health at 416/927-2027 or www.iwh.on.ca/

Association of Canadian Ergonomists at 1/888/432-2223 or

www.ace-ergocanada.ca/

noise NoiseWatch at 416/410-2236 or www3.sympatico.ca/noise/

http://www.chatelaine.com/read/work/work_health3.html

Address your stress

Sue , formerly a communications specialist at an international courier

company, would drive to work every morning, dreading the day ahead. Upper

management never seemed to take her ideas, thoughts or work seriously. When

it got to the point where she had to consult her doctor about stomach pains

and loss of appetite, she knew that she had to leave. " The employees were

the drones, " says . Since leaving that job, is thriving at

Allstate Insurance. " I'm still busy, but I don't have that stress level.

There's trust here. "

's experience is hardly unique. Even organizations such as the United

Nations and World Health Organization pinpoint job stress as a global

problem with serious consequences. Not surprisingly, women with their double

load of work and home responsibilities are more likely to experience stress

on the job. In a recent Angus Reid Group survey of Canadian employees

sponsored by Aventis-Pharma, 53 per cent of women said they experienced a

great deal of stress at work. Twenty-one per cent said stress also made them

sick. They're right. Prolonged stress increases your risk of insomnia,

ulcers, weakened immune response, high blood pressure and heart disease.

The checklist

If you're stressed, assess what stage you've reached.

Stage 1: while at work, do you sometimes experience stress, in-cluding an

adrenalin rush, rapid pulse and breathing, anxiety, indigestion and

sweating?

Stage 2: has workplace stress accumulated to the point where you feel

frequently irritable and exhausted? Are you working so much that you are

eating poorly, smoking or drinking more? Do you frequently get colds and

flus?

Stage 3: is workplace stress causing long-term health problems such as

chronic insomnia, intense anxiety, depression and heart problems?

What you can do

If you answered yes to any of these questions, follow these steps to address

your stress:

Try to find out what kind of work satisfies you, suggests Dr. Earle,

managing director of the Canadian Institute of Stress. Then try to

incorporate that kind of satisfying work more often into your day.

Take control. Often, the most stressful aspects of our jobs are things that

seem to be out of our control: threatened layoffs, lack of sufficient or

positive feedback and increased workload. You might want to consider

telecommuting once a week or taking time management and other seminars to

help you work more efficiently.

Talk to your human resources department about employee assistance programs.

Many employers offer counselling services and stress-management courses. Ask

whether your benefits package includes fitness or massage-therapy coverage

(see Happening health perks).

Look for new work. If these stress-busting tips aren't working for you, you

may need to consider leaving your job, as did. Ask potential employers

about their workplace wellness policy and make a choice that respects your

health.

nap attack!

Imagine if you could catch a few zzzs in your company's napping room as you

hit your midday slump. Well, that fantasy might just become a reality.

Increasingly, Canadian employers are recognizing that sleeping on the job

can be a good thing. Increased alertness and productivity, better judgment

and occupational safety are just a few of the benefits of hanging your

hammock at work. For those of you juggling both work and family demands,

naps can be particularly helpful. For the 1.6 million women who work shifts,

however, having the opportunity to rest can be a lifesaver.

Seefried, a 27-year-old operator at Nova Chemical's Joffre, Alta.,

plant near Red Deer and the mother of two young sons, knows that fatigue on

the job can be a killer. Seefried monitors equipment that produces highly

explosive ethylene. It's demanding work that requires alertness and

attention to detail, which can be a challenge because she works on rotating

day and night shifts. " I find the first night shift is always the worst, "

she says. Fortunately, Nova's alertness recovery program encourages

employees to take 20-minute recovery periods or even naps when needed.

" There are some shifts where you're exhausted and it's pointless to stay

awake, " says Seefried. It's true, says Camille , co-author of The Art

of Napping at Work (Larson) and president of The Napping Company in Reading,

Mass., which consults with corporations on the benefits of napping. " When

you're tired, your attention span is impaired and your reaction time is

slower, " says . To order The Art of Napping at Work, visit

www.napping.com.

If your company hasn't woken up to the value of napping yet, talk to

co-workers to find out if they would support a napping policy and circulate

a proposal. Remember that a napping room can also serve as a quiet space,

lactating room or reading area and that naps can take place during breaks or

the lunch hour. And don't forget that fatigue-related accidents can be

costly, if not deadly. Whether it's a trucker falling asleep at the wheel, a

factory worker losing a limb to machinery or an accountant forgetting a

critical detail in a report, sleep-deprived workers cost $116 billion a year

in the U.S. alone, according to the American National Commission on Sleep

Disorders.

Once you've won the right to snooze, follow these napping tips from Dr.

Broughton, director of the Sleep Disorders Centre at Ottawa Hospital:

Nap 12 hours after the midway point of your last night's sleep. For

instance, if you went to bed at 10 p.m. and woke up at 6 a.m., 2 p.m. is the

ideal time to rest.

Never nap for more than 10 to 25 minutes or you'll end up feeling groggy.

Find a dark quiet room, breathe deeply and let your mind go blank. You can

thank us later.

Workplace injuries

Employees are injured on the job every 9.1 seconds in Canada. Whether you

design buildings on a computer or sell shoes, there are physical risks to

every job. Although women report fewer injuries than men, the number of

women's injuries has increased almost 10 per cent since 1982, according to

the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada. Women are most

likely to experience strain and sprain injuries in the upper limbs, carpal

tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and lower-back strain. These injuries are often

slow to develop and can cause numbness, tingling, pain and potentially

long-term disability. It also turns out that how fast we work may be as

important a factor in injury as how we work. Dr. Terrence Sullivan,

president of the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto, says the fast pace

of work today is one of workers' top complaints and is a major contributor

to workplace injury.

The checklist

Does your job require prolonged sitting or standing in one position?

Do you perform repetitive tasks such as sorting or assembly work?

Does your job involve frequent lifting, hauling, bending or reaching?

Do you work with vibrating equipment that causes numbness or tingling in

your hands?

Does your workstation force you into awkward positions?

What you can do

Speak to your employer if you have experienced work-related pain or

discomfort or are concerned about the risks in your workplace. Under the

Occupational Health and Safety Act, you have a responsibility to inform your

employer about physical risks and the right to refuse unsafe work.

Slow down and pay attention. " It's usually not until after you've had an

injury that you stop to think of better ways of doing the work, slowing

down, using proper body mechanics and getting the assistance you need, " says

Barton, who co-ordinates the safety and efficiency of work

environments at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre. It's worth taking the time.

happening health perks

Benefits envy. You'll be feeling it shortly after reading what these

progressive female-friendly companies are doing for their staff. Services

such as on-site massage and naturopathic health coverage aren't just

corporate fads, however. They're signs that employers increasingly

understand the value of employee wellness. Explains Press, editor of

Benefits Canada, a trade magazine for corporations and insurance companies,

" When you're committed to the wellness of your people, it stands to reason

that those people will be more productive and loyal. "

.. Management at Avon Canada, for example, knows that employee health is more

than skin deep. The medical centre at Avon's Montreal head office offers an

annual Pap smear clinic, regular consultations with a dietitian and clinics

on topics such as osteoporosis and menopause. It is also adding a

reduced-premium benefits package for single parents.

.. Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has an employee assistance program with

confidential counselling services and a 24-hour hotline with nurses on call.

It has also invested in an on-site fitness centre.

.. Hewlett-Packard, a Toronto-based computer company, offers aerobics and

Pilates classes and free coffee, fruit and muffins in the morning. Vacation

properties in Kingston, Jamaica, and Cape Cod, Mass., are available free to

staff.

.. Canada Life, a countrywide insurance company, encourages afternoon stretch

breaks and has a subsidized cafeteria featuring healthful meals. It also has

a take-out service so employees can order reasonably priced, nutritious

dinners to take home.

.. VanCity Credit Union in Vancouver pampers the moms on staff. The credit

union's head office has a breastfeeding room complete with a breast pump and

fridge.

.. Montreal software firm Zero-Knowledge Systems offers weekly massages and

an aptly named " perks system " that gives staffers $100 a month to look after

body, mind and soul.

Jealous yet? Put that energy to use and try these strategies to get great

health benefits at your company:

Do your homework. Ask your human resources department which health services

your company offers now. You may be surprised.

Show them the numbers. Don't just ask for perks; prove that employee health

pays off. Rita McCracken, director of culture and learning, a.k.a. " chief

peacenik " at Zero-Knowledge Systems, for example, says the turnover rate is

less than one per cent among its 250 employees. A study conducted by Canada

Life and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism found that employee fitness

programs consistently lowered absenteeism.

Go outside. Lesli Boldt, a spokesperson for VanCity Credit Union, suggests

speaking to non-profit groups such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of

Canada to help your company get information on health-promotion programs,

such as the Heart Smart food program and smoking-cessation programs.

http://www.chatelaine.com/read/work/work_health5.html

Noise pollution

" Acoustic overarousal " may sound exciting, but too much noise in the

workplace can harm your health and the quality of your work. Hearing loss

occurs when workers are exposed to noise 85 decibels and higher for an

extended period of time. Seemingly innocent noises such as a car horn, a

running food processor or a motor-cycle engine are all examples of noises at

or above 90 decibels. You may be more at risk than you think, though,

because sensitivity to noise and predisposition to hearing loss vary.

Arseneau, an audiologist in Bathurst, N.B., says you're always

wise to protect your hearing. And noise doesn't just affect our ears.

Excessive noise can cause irritation, aggression, susceptibility to injury

and stress. Some studies have even linked noise exposure to high blood

pressure and cardiovascular disease, although more research needs to be

done.

The checklist

Are you frequently exposed to noise at 85 decibels and higher?

Do you have to raise your voice to speak to co-workers just steps away?

Does your heart race and your stomach knot when you hear noise?

Do you have ringing in your ears or difficulty sleeping?

What you can do

Discuss the noise problem with your supervisor. " Most employers aren't even

aware of noise being an issue, let alone the degree of its effect on

employees, " explains Greenspoon, president of NoiseWatch in Toronto.

Once a noise problem has been identified, the Canadian Centre for

Occupational Health and Safety recommends that employers conduct a noise

survey to determine levels and sources of noise and then develop a noise

reduction strategy. Greenspoon notes that noise problems can often be cut in

half through redesign alone.

Protect your ears. Arseneau recommends earplugs that decrease noise by at

least 25 to 29 decibels. These can be purchased at safety supply stores and

most hardware stores.