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Office Rash

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Safetysmurf
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Office Rash

Post by Safetysmurf »

Good morning All,
My wife works in an office environment which is relatively a newish building and has worked there for over 2 years.
Within the last 3 weeks she has developed a rash on her forearms and hands (where she wears a watch there is no rash) and on her face (under the eyes).
She has been to the doctors and they have absolutely no idea what this is.
The doctor has given her some anti-histamine tablets.
There has now been another incident with another lady in the same office with very similar symptoms.
She has stayed away from work for a week and the rash is slowly going down.
When she returned back to work yesterday the rash has blown up again.
The office has artificial lighting and the bulb has been changed above her desk.
There are no opening windows and the air is circulated by vents.
I cant help thinking that this is something to do with the ventilation system.
I'm really scratching my head with this?
Someone has even mentioned cable bugs which is static?
Any ideas anyone?

Carl
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Re: Office Rash

Post by Extankman »

Maybe the aircon unit/s are faulty, ill sealed

Air conditioning has been known to cause an issue with synthetic fibres irritating skin

Like Jonsi mentioned, any hand cleaners or soap in the ladies room may be giving a reaction.....
Last edited by Extankman on Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Office Rash

Post by jonsi »

Rashes can be caused by a wide range of conditions but this sounds like a contact dermatitis. Usual causes are chemicals, often those found in soaps and detergents. What you don't say is what work your wife and her colleague carries out. Is it standard Office work or is there any required PPE in the form of overcoats or jackets.

Is there a particular soap in the Ladies that might be causing this irritation?

Many years ago when I worked with (a lot of) cash (£40k daily wasn't uncommon), I was forever getting redness, small bumps and blisters appearing on my skin (hands and forearms) and dry patches on my face, until I started applying a barrier cream, regular hand-washing and moisturising or just wearing gloves (Nitrile because they didn't smell as bad as Latex!)

Sudden onset like this, which lessens or disappears when the person is away from work, indicates that the irritant is at work. Tricky bit is finding out what it is. Ask her to make a note of whatever she comes into contact with regularly during the day then try working it out from there. See if long sleeves restrict the rash to just the hands.

As for your own head scratching...not contagious is it? ;)
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Re: Office Rash

Post by bernicarey »

It's going to have to be process of elimination, but the employer should be taking this seriously.

Arms, hands and face are clearly the exposed skin surfaces, although if it's only under the eyes, that might be hand to face contact giving secondary transfer.

What office cleaning occurs? Could it be a change of polish/cleaner being used on the desk tops?

It might be related to the ventilation, but what about other employees in nearby rooms?

It shouldn't be too hard to track down a change in circumstances around 3-4 weeks ago, just prior to symptoms occurring.

As it's not your workplace/responsibility, clearly the best you can hope for is to suggest some actions the employer might take.

This could require an Environmental Health Technician/Nurse with some monitoring equipment.

I'd be tempted to put some litmus paper at the air vents and see if they pick up anything... .scratch
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Re: Office Rash

Post by Alexis »

Many years ago, an office I worked in had similar situation, which turned out to be fleas in the carpet, so worthwhile doing a de-bug if there are carpets on the floors.
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Re: Office Rash

Post by bernicarey »

Alexis wrote:Many years ago, an office I worked in had similar situation, which turned out to be fleas in the carpet, so worthwhile doing a de-bug if there are carpets on the floors.
That's a very good thought. Some people are practically immune to them, while others get treated like a buffet!
I'd like to think that the Doc would be able to tell the difference between bites and rash, but you never know these days. ;)

Buildings can be difficult places to diagnose issues. I once had a room where people complained of headaches. Eventually we got an EH Tech who monitored the humidity (amongst other things) and we established it was dry air con causing sinus pain!
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Re: Office Rash

Post by NGC »

I too have encountered this issue where people have raised similar concerns.
Monitoring equipment for fleas failed to turn anything up, and it was in the end thought to be cable bug which an antistatic solution sprayed on carpets helps to combat.
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Re: Office Rash

Post by bernicarey »

What I don't get with the 'Cable Bug' concept is why it should have started only a few weeks ago, when the affected persons have been working there years.

Unless there has been additional equipment installed, new carpets laid, etc or perhaps the air-con fiddled with.

Dry air-con will increase the risk of static as it prevents the natural dissipation .salut
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Re: Office Rash

Post by Safetysmurf »

Thanks for the replies,

In answer to a few questions.
The cleaners are not allowed to use anything but dry clothes for cleaning
She never uses the soap in the toilets either, electing to use her own handwash solution.
It could be that the carpets need a good clean (my thoughts only) or that the air vents need servicing (again my thoughts) Dry air con as Bernie says
Seems strange that it only flares up when she is in the office.
It also seems strange that the other ladies doctor was given the same anti histamines as my wife?? (different doctors)
Love the idea of litmus paper but if there were acidic or alkaline air then most would get the rash?
Jonsi its a standard open office so no PPE
Ex tank synthetic fibres from where? The only areas that are affected are the ones that are open to the elements, forearms (usually wears short sleeves), face, and hands?
As for fleas, who knows? unless they do a deep cleanse of the carpet?

Stumped

Carl
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Re: Office Rash

Post by bernicarey »

It also seems strange that the other ladies doctor was given the same anti histamines as my wife?? (different doctors)
Perhaps a bit of a tangent here ;)
There's limited choice for Anti Histamines, especially on the NHS.
Clearly I'm no Chemist, but as I understand it, there's the old 1st Generation, which caused drowsiness in most people, and 2nd/3rd Gen that don't.
Cetirizine is probably the most common 2nd/3rd Gen, usually as Cetirizine (Di)hydrochloride or such, but there's also Loratadine.

Drugs like Piriton are 1st Gen. .salut
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Re: Office Rash

Post by Safetysmurf »

Quick update, after the company did a thorough clean of the office and serviced the air conditioning filters (which were filthy and torn)the rash has since gone down slightly.
Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions.

SS.
Last edited by Alexis on Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Many thanks for the update SS.
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