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Are You Sick of Work?
5 REAL Dangers Your Work Could Be Making You Ill
There’s no reason to put up with a job that’s damaging your health. Whilst most employers will try their best to protect their workers, certain dangers can be missed.
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In other careers, a pressure to make do and not complain about health dangers could be contributing to long-term damage.
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Below are 5 of the main work dangers and what you should do about them:
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Sick of Work Danger #1
Work stress
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Stress is difficult to avoid in the working world – even your dream job may have the occasional high-pressure client or stressful deadline.
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However, constant stress over a prolonged period is something you should avoid and could be a clear sign to look for another job or take on reduced responsibilities.
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Stress releases cortisol into the bloodstream which is a much needed part of our survival mechanism.
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However, on a day to day basis it can drain us. Cortisol causes muscles to tense up, which over a constant period can lead to fatigue. Cortisol also makes the skin more reactive to spots and acne, as well as aging it faster.
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This boost of cortisol also makes us more alert, which can make getting to sleep more difficult. On top of this, stress increases blood pressure and wears out the heart muscles more, as well as leading to unhealthy build ups of white blood cells, causing heart disease and, in some cases, heart attacks.
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These are only some of the physical effects of stress. Mentally, it can have all kinds of repercussions, leading to depressions and anxiety. Research has also found that stress reduces our productivity and can lead to more work accidents as a knock on effect.
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Whilst there are many ways to combat stress through herbal remedies and meditation, your priority should be to relieve the source of stress from your job. This could be anything from fear of job security to workplace bullying to long hours.
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Talk to your boss about your concerns – or if your boss is the problem, try to contact someone higher up the chain. A work stress counsellor may be able to give you advice on what steps to take.
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Taking time off may be needed for those suffering a serious burnout. Leaving and finding another job should also always be an option.
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Sick of Work Danger #2
Mould exposure at work
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Mould is a fungus caused by dampness indoors. It can collect on walls or on windows and give off spores in the air that when breathed cause cold-like symptoms, or in worse cases lung disease.
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Mould can also collect in air conditioning units and then be pumped out into the air, making everyone sick.
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If you’re constantly feeling sick and have seen mould in the office, this may well be the source of your illness.
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Usually mould can be prevented in the office by hiring cleaners on a regular basis, as well cleaning out air conditioning units once a year (particularly after winter when an air conditioning unit may be unused for several months and when mould is more likely to develop).
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Employers are required to legally clear up mould, and you should let your supervisor know if you see any. You may even be able to file a lawsuit if you get ill from mould exposure, especially if it has led to lung disease.
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Sick of Work Danger #3
Exposure to other toxins in your workplace
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There are other materials and substances found in many workplaces that could be damaging your health.
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Old buildings can sometimes be constructed out of materials that have since been banned.
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The most infamous examples include asbestos insulation and lead paint. Flakes of these materials can get into the air and be breathed in/ingested causing serious damage. On top of these materials, there are various toxic gases that should be looked out for such as carbon monoxide and radon.
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All employers should take preventative action against these toxins. If you spot asbestos or lead paint in your office, you should advise your employer to get rid of it straight away. All workplaces meanwhile should have a carbon monoxide monitor for alerting everybody a leak the moment it happens.
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If you are subject to any kind of poisoning, you are always in your right to file a lawsuit. Asbestos representation is becoming more available nowadays – you may even be able to sue an employer of whom you worked with years ago, so long as you can find proof that there was a known risk at the time.
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Such materials may even have been used as part of the job (i.e. construction, manufacture), in which case you might be able to sue for lack of safety equipment, which leads onto the next work danger…
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Sick of Work Danger #4
Lack of health and safety protocol
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Some toxins may not be lurking in the walls but may be physically handled as part of the day to day routine of the job.
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This could include cleaning chemicals, manufacturing fumes or dust from woodwork or flour.
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Illness from such toxins could be the result of a lack of health and safety protocol in place. There may not be masks or safety gloves required or there may not be an extractor fan, in which case legal action could be pursued.
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In other cases, training may have not been given or there may be a peer pressure not to wear equipment, which may be more of a grey area when considering a lawsuit.
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Signing a contract that said you were fully-trained up and that you must wear safety equipment at all times could leave you with no rights to sue, although there may be leverage in some cases.
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Sick of Work Danger #5
Other sick, toxic employees
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When employees choose to come into work sick, this illness can then spread to the rest of the workforce.
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If you find that you are constantly becoming ill due to other sick employees, it could say something about the way the office is run. There may not be enough ventilation, causing bugs to catch and spread more easily. Mugs may not be getting cleaned properly, causing people to share one another’s germs.
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Alternatively, workers may be getting discouraged to stay at home when sick – often the result of a staff shortage when a boss will do anything to convince employees to come into the office.
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Whatever the case, you should talk to your employer about what action can be taken to stop the spread of germs and stop sick employees coming in.
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