Glasgow University's Library is Sick

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The Scotsman

February 11, 2000

UNIVERSITY'S STAFF SUFFER IN 'SICK BUILDING'

By Tracey Lawson

STAFF and students at Glasgow University are falling ill because their library

is officially " sick " .

A mild case of sick building syndrome (SBS) is being blamed for sore eyes,

head-aches and feelings of ill-health among staff and students using the

university library.

University officials are considering replacing the air conditioning system in

the eleven-storey building in Hillhead Street, in the west end of Glasgow, in an

attempt to alleviate the symptoms.

The university commissioned a study into sickness levels among the library's 250

full-time and part-time staff last year, after workers expressed concern that

the working environment may be contributing to unusually high levels of illness.

Donna Reid, a spokeswoman for Glasgow University, said that initial findings

suggest a definite link between sickness levels of staff and the work

environment

" From initial research we suspect that the heating and cooling system in the

library is contributing to sickness among staff, although sickness levels fall

well below that which would be required for experts to designate it a sick

building.

" However there does seem to be a problem. The report has yet to be completed,

but at this point it looks as if replacing the (air conditioning) system might

solve the problem.

" The system has been in place since the library was built in 1968, and it

appears that it can not cope with the higher level of students who use it

today, " she said.

The university was unable to provide figures for sickness levels among library

staff.

However a spokeswoman for the public service union Unison, which represents 80

Glasgow University library workers, welcomed the findings.

She said: " We are pleased and relieved that the initial investigation is showing

this.

Over the past 18 months library staff have become increasingly concerned about

their working environment. Complaints ranged from flu symptoms to tiredness and

headaches. "

Samy Harraz, of Glasgow University Students Representative Council, said that a

number of students had complained about headaches and dizziness, as well as

extremes of temperature in the library.

Ridiculed by many sceptics when it first emerged in the 1970s, SBS is officially

recognised as a danger to workers by both the World Health Organisation and the

Health and Safety Executive, which publishes guidelines on how to recognise and

deal with the problem.

The majority of sick buildings date from the 1970s, when the world oil crisis

induced drastic energy conservation measures in many companies. Buildings were

constructed with sealed windows and air conditioning systems. Only later did it

emerge that the air circulation system provided the perfect breeding ground for

bacteria.

Advocates of the syndrome say that air conditioning, trapped dust, the ozone

from photocopiers, and chemicals from carpets and furnishing, may act like

poisons in the blood making employees feel lethargic, breathless and suffer from

skin or eye complaints.

Symptoms are often relieved when workers leave the office.

While air conditioning is widely regarded as the major culprit in SBS, Glasgow

University may find that replacing the system in its library will not provide a

solution.

In 1995, Craigpark School, in Ayr, was shut down by Strathclyde Regional Council

just 15 years after it was built, when staff and pupils suffered unexplained

symptoms including dizziness, skin irritations and headaches. A new GBP 120, 000

ventilation system failed to alleviate the symptoms.