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Sick building syndrome, a combination of symptoms which was first recognised in the 1980s, could be the basis for an industrial injury compensation payment to an employee who feels his employer has not paid sufficient heed to maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
Usually, it is people in offices who are most severely affected by the work-related syndrome because of the sedentary nature of their jobs and poor indoor air quality causing health problems ranging from irritation of the eyes, nose, throat or skin to hypersensitivity and potential breathing difficulties.
Some people, such as those who have asthma, are more susceptible to changes in ventilation and air quality than others but certainly if a number of workers in a particular area of a building suddenly become unwell this may be an indication of an environmental problem.
Another indicator could be if the sufferer feels better after leaving the particular room or work area when no longer exposed to the cause of the pollution.
Causes of sick building syndrome can include inefficient or defective heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, mould and dampness, chemicals, glues and paints used without adequate fume extraction and, particularly in small enclosed offices with a number of computers, printers and photocopiers, ozone given off by some machines.
Women are believed to be particularly susceptible to suffering from sick building syndrome because they more usually are office workers than men and often sit in close proximity to computer-related equipment.
Older buildings are most likely to suffer from inherent defects which make the structure incompatible with modern working procedures, including their heating systems, which may give off pollutants or other chemicals if they are poorly maintained.
In 1984, a report by the World Health Organisation estimated that up to 30% of new and renovated buildings worldwide could be subject to complaints about indoor air quality.
Among the substances which may be found in the air of an industrial building or office, aside from any chemicals caused by production processes or whatever else is the main source of work, are carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, which can also be found in modern construction boards often used for making partition walls, chemicals related to carpeting, and paints or glues.
Volatile organic compounds can also be found in a large range of common substances used both at home and at work. These include cleaning products, marker pens, flame retardants, air fresheners, deodorants, perfumes and even laundry detergent residue on clothes.
Sick building syndrome alone may not be life-threatening but to an employee who suffers regularly from multiple chemical sensitivity or develops other long-term allergies, skin problems or whose breathing difficulties are made worse, it can be quite sufficient to prevent an employee from working effectively, safely and happily.
YouClaim and industrial injury compensation
If your health has suffered as a result of your employment, you may be eligible for a payment of industrial injury compensation in recompense and to ease any financial burden arising from the circumstances.
YouClaim has one of the largest and most experienced groups of personal injury solicitors in the UK and any of them will offer you a sympathetic yet professional hearing of your problems, advise whether a damages claim against your employer, of former boss, is likely to succeed then, should you wish it, can represent you in legal negotiations or a court case.
To give you complete peace of mind before commencing action, YouClaim offers two important assurances: all our lawyers are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and, by using the no win no fee system, there will be no cost to you and every penny of compensation won will be yours to keep without deduction.
Because sick building syndrome is not a very commonly-diagnosed type of industrial injury, if you think you may be suffering from it, the services of an expert could make all the difference to the success of your claim so to find out more about our services, why not phone now on 0800 10 757 95
