Workplace Allergies?

Employer Newsletter - Issue 3, 2011

Allergens are substances that can trigger an allergic reaction. If you have allergies it means that your body reacts to allergens as a harmful foreign substance. These health hazards may be found where you live, work, or play. While the reactions may differ, they can cause physical reactions that can affect your employees.

Allergens may be:

Inhaled in the form of pollens, mold, chemicals, material from the stools of cockroaches and house dust mites, or animal dander and saliva. Animal dander is dead skin cells from an animal, such as a cat or dog. Animal hair or fur is not an allergen.
Eaten or taken by mouth, including foods, food supplements, home remedies, or medications.
Touched, such as cosmetics, plants, soaps or detergents, chemicals, metals, or latex (causing skin or contact allergies).
Applied to the skin, such as artificial nails, hair extensions, or henna tattoos.
Injected under the skin, such as medications or venom from the bites or stings of bees, yellow jackets, hornets, or other insects.

Allergy symptoms may be controlled by avoiding exposure to allergens. Some people need medications or allergy shots (immunotherapy) to control their body's reactions to the allergens. Many experts classify a person’s reaction according to when and where the reactions occurred.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). A seasonal allergy occurs at the same time each year and is often referred to as hay fever. The most common allergens in seasonal allergies are windblown pollens from trees, grasses, or weeds, so the symptoms of a seasonal allergy usually occur when certain plants are in bloom. (Some types of mold also occur seasonally and may cause similar symptoms.)
Perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). A year-round (perennial) allergy occurs any time during the year. The symptoms of a year-round allergy may be more severe in winter, when people spend more time indoors. The most common causes of perennial allergies are dust mites, cockroaches or mold.
Occupational allergic rhinitis (OAR). Occupational allergic rhinitis is caused by an allergic reaction to a substance present in the workplace, such as grain, wood dust, chemicals, or lab animals.

Allergy Triggers at Work

Go through your workplace to look for allergy triggers. Common allergens include:

Aerosols
Chemical fumes
Cigarette smoke
Cockroaches
Cold air
Dust
Fresh paint
Humid air

Mold and mildew
Perfume and scented products (from co-workers)
Pet dander (from co-workers’ clothing)
Pollen
Tobacco smoke and wood smoke
Weather fronts
Wind

Depending on your job, you may also be exposed to:

Animal-derived material (such as dander and secretions)
Plant and vegetable products (cotton or grain dust)
Wood dusts

Chemicals
Dyes
Fumes
Salts

Three Tips for Taking Charge of Your Allergies at Work

Try these ways to manage your allergies on the job.

Make sure your work area is well ventilated and has proper humidity to minimize molds.
See to it that your work area is dusted regularly.
If you clean your own workplace, protect your nose with a mask.

What if you’re a painter or do construction work, or work with animals? The ability to reduce exposure to allergy triggers may be limited. If it’s difficult to change your work environment you may want to talk to your health care practitioner about the best allergy medications for you.

You don’t have to let allergies make you and your staff miserable at work. You can manage allergy symptoms and improve workforce concentration by following these three steps:

Understand the problem of allergies at work
Identify workplace allergy triggers
Find the best allergy medicine

Source: HealthWise® 2011, for more information go to Health Topics.

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