If the sound track in your office is comprised of sneezing and coughing you know that spring has arrived and with it allergy season. For most adults, seasonal allergies are triggered by pollen and can be further aggravated by other indoor allergens such as dust and mold.
While most will seek medications to help relieve their symptoms, there a few simple things that can be done to make office environment a bit more "allergy friendly" and help to reduce the occurrence of allergy symptoms at work.
Change Air Filters on Schedule
Make sure that air filters throughout your facility are changed regularly. It is recommended by building maintenance professionals to change filters at least once every three months. Doing so will drastically improve the internal air quality which in turn will help those with allergies or asthma.
Vacuum Daily
Pollen and other allergens can enter the office on shoes and outerwear such as jackets and sweaters. These allergens then become trapped in the fibers of carpets and can wreck havoc on the seasonal allergy suffer. If the office cleaning in your facility is outsourced, request that the carpet be vacuumed daily. It is a practice of Quality Maintenance & Repair Service to vacuum carpets, rugs and mats on a daily basis, but each cleaning company follows their own protocol.
Regular Dusting
Dust is a common allergen. Frequent dusting of desks and other surfaces can prevent build-up and allergic reactions. To aid your cleaning company in thoroughly dusting desks, make sure to remove all items from your desk frequently. This will allow the entire surface to be dusted.
Keep Potted Plants Nearby
Potted plants have been found to help improve air quality and remove allergens from the air. Place a potted plant or two in your office area to reduce your allergy symptoms. When selecting a plant, snake and fichus varieties have been found to be the most beneficial.
Consider an Indoor Air Purification System
Indoor air purifiers are widely available in retail stores. These systems are small in size and can be placed discretely in offices. Select a unit with a HEPA filtration system. These types of systems have an essential component that creates an allergen free environment.
While precautionary measures alone won't but an end to seasonal allergies, they can help to reduce systems and bring relief.