I have recently started a new job in which I am sitting in a large open plan office with about ten other peopl

Question

I am sat under the air con and it has made be feel very un well with flu like sighns. Will this pass or am I just very senstive to this?

Answer 1

Been sat under the duct means you will probably pick every germ up going, Try and move your desk slightly so your not getting a direct blast. You will pick bugs and illness up from a strange place any way due to dry air and changes in the the environment. The biggest place for bacteria in a office is a phone every one uses the nearest handset leaving their germs everywhere. Buy some antibacterial wipes and give you  phone a good clean on a regular basis.

Answer 2

No it will not pass.  You must ask to be moved away from this down-draft or else you will become permanently ill.

If moving is not possibly, then seek employment with another firm.

Have a read of some of these below : -

They Said, July 2006

and I'm in the process of writing a freelance piece on the dangers of ......

heard escaping refrigerate gas from the roof-mounted air conditioning unit. ...

http://www.wildlandfire.com/arc/2006g_ju...

Bed compromising an air guiding unit for air-conditioning rooms ...

Drafts of any kind will be avoided for the benefit of the hotel guest, and the

hygienic .... For air conditioning, especially for heating or down-cooling, ...

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/718178...

Commentary: Air conditioning as a risk for increased use of health ...

Occupants of office buildings with air conditioning (AC) systems (e.g. .....

Dampness in builidings and health. Dampness at home as a risk factor for ...

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/conten...

An Office Building Occupant's Guide to Indoor Air Quality ...

What You Can Do to Improve the Indoor Air in Your Office: ..... Most of us today

are aware of the health risks of smoking, not only to smokers, ...

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/occupgd.html

Dirty Air Conditioners Pose Health Risks - chinagate.com.cn

May 23, 2007 ... Dirty Air Conditioners Pose Health Risks ... She suspects the central air-conditioning

unit in her office is to blame. ...

http://www.chinagate.com.cn/english/envi...

If there is a nurse in the company where you work, arrange with your line manager to visit the nurse.  Explain the problem.  Also visit your own doctor.  Get something done now, because you could be sitting in a downdraft full of bugs from a filthy air-conditioning unit which may not have been cleaned for years.

You'd be amazed how many firms fail to have air conditioning units cleaned on a regular basis.

I know because I'm an office cleaner.

Another major source of illness in the office is the photocopier and most powder type ink printers.  The powder ink can get into the office air.  This black powder contains cancer causing particles.

Printers and photocopiers need regular quarterly cleaning with high power vacuum cleaners of the type used in hositals.

You can find out more about this sort of cleaning at the link below : -

http://www.capital.uk.com/home/

The above firm may also be able to advise you about cleaning an air conditioning unit...

Answer 3

Air Con can do that if you're not used to it, should pass once you get used to it or you might need to ask someone to turn it down a bit. Of course it is possible that you've picked up an infection like cold or flu but unlikely to come on that quickly

Answer 4

can pass on , best to ask one of your co workers if they mind changing places,

Answer 5

take an umbrella and put over your chair to block the draft

Answer 6

Ask your supervisor, very politely, if there should be any problem or if you need to do anything. Someone presumably sat there before you.

Do ask. You are no good to the organisation if you are unwell, particularly so soon after starting in your new job.

Answer 7

Oh I do feel for you! I hate air conditioning... in fact I hate any form of fresh air.

With regards to your flu symptoms, yes this is normal and you will climatise and get used to it eventually.

If it is making you feel cold I would say that you should speak with your boss and ask if they can either turn down the aircon or move your desk to somewhere like next to a radiator lol. Well that's what I would be doing.

I hope you feel a little better soon and good luck with your new job.