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Fibro and smell sensitivity

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Posted 6/18/2013 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
 I have worked for a huge agency for 4 years now.  We recently moved to a brand new building and all of sudden I begin to have issues with the chemicals in the building.  The holistic doctor found formaldehyde and paint thinner in my system....and we are now trying to detox my lungs.  I learned later from research it could be a reaction due to my fibro, sensitivity to chemicals and odors.  My sensitivity to other odors has been heighten sense working in the building and allergy and respiratory issues have been appeared.  Meanwhile my job is on the line, because I can't work in the building.  Fortunately we have several buildings on our campus and I was able to go to another building.  It's been 3 weeks and formaldehyde is still showing up in my testing....It's effected my respiratory system and I now have allergy symptoms I haven't seen.  I'm still not working in the building. The other thing, I am support staff, so my job is on the line because I can't totally support them from another building and I get that.  But it seems drastically unfair for a building to be built that's not healthy for all.  I'm grateful that my body is saying no, but for the people whose sitting in it, what consequences are down the line. Does anyone have any advice regarding this matter....do I have any legal rights?
Posted 6/18/2013 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sure there may be something similar where you are. Here in Australia, this will fall into equal opportunity and discrimination at work place; it also falls into workplace health and safety. You cannot be fired from not able to perform your duty if they do not provide you with an environment that is unhealthy or is making you sick.

Not sure how it works in where you are, but I'd seek legal advise if my supervisor gives me a warning about my performance in regard of that issue. But first, you need to make your bosses and HR know about the condition, so they can rectify the issue. If they don't do anything, you will have strong ground to claim against your employer for your sickness too.
Posted 6/18/2013 10:00 AM (GMT 0)
Claire - How do they test for formaldehyde? Looks like I would go to your supervisor and Human resource if I had proof of cause. OSHA would be notified if nothing got done.
Posted 6/18/2013 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
Most people who has a sense of smell would have be able to smell it. It can cause dizziness, nausea and most people might just ignore it and call it new paint smell, but it is quite toxic. This link maybe useful for further information

www.epa.gov/iaq/formaldehyde.html
Posted 6/18/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Wellfree, and welcome!  Well, some people with fibo have smell sensitivity.  They can't stand to be around perfume, for example.  But formaldehyde has a pungent odor so you probably would have smelled it if it were coming from the buildings.  What I think is going on is you have allergies and sensitivities to some things and your body is reacting.  Here is a link about where formaldahyde can be found.  You could be getting formaldehyde from your own home.

 

http://www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/Formaldehyde_summary.pdf

I think you need to see an allergy specialist to find out what is causing this reaction in your body.  There are medications that are available that could help your situation.  I had a dog that seemed allergic to everything so I had her tested.  They tested her for 40 allergens and she was allergic to 38 of them.  A special serum was made just for her and I had to give her allergy shots every week and it helped her immensely.

 

I personally do not think it's your employer's responsibility in this case.  Chemicals seem to be everywhere and they did move you to another building since you thought it was the building causing the problems.  Employers can't work around everyone's allergies and sensitivities. 

 

If you don't want to see an allergy specialist, I would suggest, while you are still getting a paycheck, to be searching for another job.  BUT, you could run into the same problem since these chemicals are found in very common products. 

 

I do hope you will see an allergy specialist.  They could make your life so much better if you do have allergies and sensitivities and, if you let your employer know you are doing this, I'm sure they will give you more time to try to help yourself.  I'm so sorry you are having these problems.  Our allergies forum might have some suggestions for you also.  Do feel better.

 

Sherrine

 

 

 

 

Posted 6/18/2013 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, that's an eye opener as an Australian, we value OH&S (occupation health and safety). and as an employment point of view, if the employee has been a long term staff, there will be a lot of lost productivity and training that would be money that is lost.

As you have read from the EPA website Formaldehyde is toxic, it's in building usually used in glue. It's highly probable that these are due to the new furniture and fixtures on the new campus.

Speak to HR, there will be arrangement that can be done. Eg wearing a 4 micro filter mask to do support work in that campus. It's never black and white. Employers can be reasonable if you tell them that the fumes are making you sick, Don't have to get into too much details, but some people might be able to withstand those smell, some won't. It is a work place responsibility to make sure the work place is safe to work in. They probably won't want the whole work force to be poison by formaldehyde. That would have disastrous consequences to that company.

Work something out with HR. They are the one dealing with human resources, come up with some ideas, and move onwards from there.
Posted 6/18/2013 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Clarie, we do too.  We also have the Americans with Disability Act but I think it's impossible to accomodate everyone.  It looks like the employer was doing their best by having her work in a different building.  They can't tear down a building and rebuild them if only one person is affected.  If many people were affected I'm sure they would have to get to the source.  This is also just my opinion and I also could be wrong but apparently most of the employees are not affected but unfortunately Wellfree is.  It's a new building, too, and you can see from the link in my other post that there are things that could cause her reaction, too.  That's why I suggested she look into allergies, etc.

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/18/2013 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I think what we're assuming here is whether it's only wellfree is the only person who suffers because of her special condition.

Just because one person is highly sensitive, doesn't mean that they don't exist in everyone, for all we know the level is near toxic and many employees could be suffering in silence.

It'll be interesting to know if there are more people taking sick leave from that building than other building. Then you've got a scientific evidence to go on with a theory.

Even with an individual employee. There are things that can be done. May be give her a filter mask when she walks into that campus. Or put her in a place where there's open window or fresh air circulating. There are many things that can be done other than go all out and demolish a building and rebuild one, which will end up with the same result anyway.

These are just some thoughts.
Posted 6/18/2013 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think she would be having the discussion with her employer if others were having the same problems as she is having. I highly doubt they would suffer in silence if they were struggling with their health like this. Also, the employer did move her to another building so they are doing the best they can under the circumstances.

Wellfree, could you see if the building they moved you to can become the Staff Support office? Couldn't the staff come to you instead of you going to the staff? The buildings are on the same campus. As far as the formaldehyde issue goes, it might take a while to get it out of you system and then you would feel better. I mean you have worked there for four years with no effects like this. There obviously is a place that didn't cause these problems.

Sherrine
Posted 6/19/2013 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
OSHA & allergist as noted above.

about 20 yr ago I was working in NJ. Company decided to do some remodeling.. turns out I am allergic to paint! Since I had seen allergist a couple of months earlier due to something plant-based.. ragweed I think.. I was fortunate to have a 'before' status.

The company was unable / unwilling to do as dr rec & take me out of the open bullpen & place a 'commercial' air cleaner in a private office for me.

Unemployment sided with me.

Two years later - another location & another job - almost new building .. sealed windows etc. In my dept alone 3 people were having the same symptoms which included bleeding from the nose, before I ever started work. Long weekends & vacations resulted in the improvement of all the symptoms. The company refused anyone to take unpaid leave (to see if symptoms would improve being away from that environment) under promise of immediate dismissal.

I willing looked for another job (& took it !!) before I got sick. (I sometimes contract my services so no, was not detrimental to my career ).

IMHO the company did not want to acknowledge any wrong doing - legally.

And this company is known world wide. I do not how things were resolved. I do know that, while I was there, 2 of the people were trying to resolve the issues thru HR & were advised as stated above.

Most likely you are not the only one being affected of course, but be careful about who & where you discuss this . For now, ask your dr if you should, whenever possible, step outside & take some deep breathes.

Best of luck..difficult situation to say the least.
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