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You may be carrying germs home from your office, warn doctors.

So you thought your regularly dusted and mopped office is squeaky clean? Check this. Occupational asthma causes some 24.5 million missed workdays in the US every year, say researchers. With lesser concern for hygiene in India, occupational hazards—asthma or others—could be more active in our offices.

General Infections
Infection at work is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, which spread all over the office through touching or sharing personal items. Their breeding grounds, says Dr Maj. Rajesh Bharadwaj, consultant ENT specialist, Sita Ram Bhartiya Hospital, New Delhi, are “wood and grain dust, animal dander, carpeted floors, room fresheners, office desk and food.”
Symptoms: Bouts of cold, asthma, headache and breathing troubles.
Remedies: Assume everyone is potentially infectious. Ensure personal hygiene. “Wash hands regularly. Cover cuts or abrasions with a waterproof dressing and do not share personal items,” says Dr Bajan. 

Noise pollution:
A level of 80 decibels—equivalent to a noisy traffic—for an eight-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week schedule is defined as noise pollution. “Those working in the aviation industry and high-power turbines are at a high risk of developing temporary or permanent hearing impairment. The impact of noise pollution at the workplace is gradual and painless. It’s tough to identify minor deterioration,” explains Dr Bharadwaj.  In an average office though, the decibel level is not as high and, at most, may cause fatigue and headache.
Symptoms: Headache, high blood pressure, fatigue, digestive disorders and, in rare cases, tinnitus, which is a constant ringing sound in the ears.
Remedies: Sound at workplace comes from equipment, which should, therefore, be put in an isolated area. Else, soundproof the room. And if that can’t be done, use ear plugs.

Occupational overuse syndrome:
It’s an injury common in fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, back and neck. “It happens when one overworks vulnerable tendons by repetitious manual tasks such as working on a keyboard or an assembly line or even playing a musical instrument,” says Dr Lakshmi Kanth, senior consultant orthopedist, Apollo Hospital, Bangalore.
Symptoms: Swelling, pain, weakness in joints, numbness.
Remedies: Chairs and desks should be adjusted to support good posture.

Computer-related injuries
Long hours of working on a computer can increase the chances of developing muscular problems, which can worsen with poor workstation design, bad posture and sitting for extended periods of time. Explains Dr Kanth, “Sitting can cause fatigue, leading to reduced blood circulation to the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. Carrying laptops around can also cause excessive strain on muscles and joints.”
Symptoms: Muscle and joint pain
Remedies: Switch to an ergonomic chair, which helps your spine to naturally hold its curve while sitting. Take frequent short breaks and go for a walk or do stretching exercises at your desk.

Eyestrain:
Focusing your eyes at the same point such as an illuminated monitor for an extended duration causes eye fatigue and eye dryness. Laptops are more dangerous as the distance between the eye and the monitor is less compared to a desktop, says Dr Umang Mathur, associate medical director, Dr Shroff’s Eye Hospital, New Delhi.
Symptoms: Blurred vision, temporary inability to focus on distant objects
Remedies: Use an adjustable desk so that you can place yourself away from the computer. Place the monitor at or lower than the eye level. “Make sure the light from the window is not shining into your face or directly onto the monitor. Tilt the monitor slightly to eliminate any reflection,” adds Dr Mathur.

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