Did you know that one in five people suffer from allergies or that allergies cost the health care system billions of dollars every year? Or how about the fact that more than 5 million workdays are lost in North America each year due to hay fever alone? There are even some statistics suggesting that allergies are becoming increasingly common and that the allergy season is being extended due to global warming. As you can see, in order to maintain optimum efficiency, it is incredibly important for employers to keep the workplace allergy free. So what can you do to help mitigate the problems of allergens in the workplace?

A Clean Workplace is a Health Workplace

First and foremost, keeping your office or workplace clean and tidy can significantly reduce the impact of allergens. Dusting and cleaning surfaces helps to eliminate allergens, but you should also be aware of mold and air pollutants that can trigger allergies in employees.

Clean Air is Breathable Air

Many hospitals and health care facilities utilize air purifiers to reduce the impact of allergens in the workplace, and you can apply the same principles to your office or commercial space. Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens can make their way even indoors and air purifiers can help eliminate the potential negative impact of these allergens. You may also want to keep doors and windows closed to improve air quality, but HEPA filters can be installed to work with HVAC systems to keep air quality at optimal levels.

Nuts are Nuts

Unfortunately, some foods can trigger very severe allergic reactions. If you are aware of an employee with a serious food allergy, you may need to ban those foods from the workplace. You’ll find that many schools in North America ban nuts entirely from school lunches in order to prevent unnecessary and potentially fatal allergic reactions.

Scent Sensitivity is Not Nonsense

In all likelihood, there is at least one person in every work environment that is very sensitive to smell. Perfume, scented soaps, and even scented hand lotion can make that work environment very uncomfortable for these individuals. Even if none of your employees has complained about sensitivity to such products, you should considering a scent-free environment by only using scent-free soap and cleaning products. You should even consider asking employees not to wear perfume or cologne in the office.

Provide Allergy Testing

This might seem like a radical idea, but the fact remains that allergies can significantly compromise productivity while also representing a considerable safety issue for some employees. Nevertheless, preventing allergic reactions is easy if you know which of your employees suffers from allergies and what causes those allergies. Providing allergy testing will help you determine the best course of action for keeping your employees happy and healthy.