“Any time you have an employee complaint about working conditions, you want to take it seriously. So when I had a worker telling me they were experiencing rapid heart rates, profuse sweating, and feeling dizzy in the office, we were determined to get to the bottom of the situation.” Margarite is a HR manager for a Massachusetts firm. “This employee’s physician determined this worker has multiple chemical sensitivity. Now we’re trying to figure out what to do to provide accommodations for this individual.”
We provide commercial cleaning services in Massachusetts. We’re not physicians. So we can’t speak to any individual’s health concerns. However, we can tell you what you can and should expect from any commercial cleaning companies you work with in situations like this. One area of obvious concern for people with chemical sensitivities is the cleaning products used in the workplace. Our role is to provide complete accurate information about the products we use and the ingredients of these products. This can be used by individuals and their physicians to determine if these are the issue.
Generally, because the products we use are medical-grade, designed for use in the hospital environment, they’re not the trigger for chemical sensitivities. It is more common to see perfumes, colognes, room fresheners and other scented products triggering these problems. However, some people are highly sensitive to common materials. These can include building materials, carpeting, upholstery filling, and more. Finding alternative cleaning products is a possibility if the problem ingredient can be definitively identified. Our goal is always to use products that deliver an acceptable standard of cleanliness without causing anyone discomfort or distress.
Other common accommodations for employees with chemical sensitivity include having the employee work in another location, having the employee work in an area with better ventilation, or having the employee work from home. Chemical sensitivity can be a disabling condition, so we’re committed to doing our part to keep everyone happy and healthy in the workplace. If you ever need information about the cleaning products used on your site, our Customer Care center will be happy to provide that for you.