Nelson N A, Kaufman J D, Burt J, Karr C
Department of Labor and Industries, State of Washington, Olympia 98504-4330, USA.
Scand J Work Environ Health. 1995 Feb;21(1):51-9. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.8.
The objective of this study was to quantify health symptom reports in four "nonproblem" buildings and to assess the relationship between symptoms and air quality measures, workstation characteristics, and psychosocial aspects of the workplace.
Environmental sampling was conducted in four office buildings occupied by employees working for the state of Washington in March of 1992. A questionnaire was concurrently administered to building occupants.
While measured contaminant levels were low, symptoms were frequent. Fifty-five percent of the 646 respondents reported recent symptoms which affected the eyes, nose, or throat and improved when away from work. Symptoms were not associated with measured contaminant levels, but, rather, with perceptions about air movement, dryness, odors, and noise. Psychosocial factors were less strongly associated with symptoms.
Even in nonproblem buildings, symptom reports can be frequent and may represent overall satisfaction with the work environment. In response to symptoms ascribed to air quality problems, it may be appropriate to address employee perceptions regarding the work environment in addition to evaluating environmental characteristics relating to chemicals, biological contamination, air movement, temperature, and humidity.
本研究的目的是量化四栋“无问题”建筑中的健康症状报告，并评估症状与空气质量指标、工作站特征以及工作场所心理社会因素之间的关系。
1992年3月，对华盛顿州雇员所在的四栋办公楼进行了环境采样。同时向建筑内的居住者发放了一份问卷。
虽然测得的污染物水平较低，但症状却很常见。646名受访者中有55%报告近期出现了影响眼睛、鼻子或喉咙的症状，且离开工作场所后症状有所改善。症状与测得的污染物水平无关，而是与对空气流动、干燥程度、气味和噪音的感知有关。心理社会因素与症状的关联较弱。
即使在无问题的建筑中，症状报告也可能很常见，且可能代表对工作环境的总体满意度。针对归因于空气质量问题的症状，除了评估与化学物质、生物污染、空气流动、温度和湿度相关的环境特征外，解决员工对工作环境的看法可能也是合适的。
