This past Monday I was interrupted in my work to be introduced to the Workman's Comp case worker as well as the Industrial Hygienist. I now have faces to names. Actually, they both looked to be about 12-years old, but both seemed to be quite professional. [The hygienist was also quite friendly.]This was it. They were there to do the air testing as part of my claim. It was finally happening!
It's my understanding, that because this issue was primarily about fragrances, the hygienist was using a device that picks up parts per billion rather than the "normal" device that detects parts per million. [At that point, I really wished that she had come to visit last week when the conference was taking place. Particularly on Friday morning as the fellow who is deathly allergic had an exposure that took him down - hard. Poor guy! I thank God that he was able to alert his back-up who was able to get him safely outside the building in time. So very frightening!!!]
Although the hygienist indicated that she would be doing tests all over the building (both floors), she seemed to do the most thorough testing in my new work area. I thought this odd, but I don't know if they needed to test the 'safest' area to use as a control sample of some sort... or to see if it actually was better. [Which would also be very interesting to know.] Side note: I found out later that they also did the same to the office that my fragrance-allergic friend uses.
Oddly enough, the day of the testing was actually one of the best days I'd had in a VERY long time. Unfortunately, the returning fragrance intensity today suggests that someone may have tipped-off a few of the heavy fragrance users. Two of them had little to no fragrance (and one kept on a jacket which is quite effective in 'covering up' scent), another one called in sick. Go figure. Fortunately, two of my primary 'offenders' were still quite fragrant and it's my hope that the testing equipment is still sensitive enough to pick up on any of the issues.
Ideally, this whole test will somehow get the company to instigate fragrance-free (or fragrance-reduced) policies in the whole building. [Even if they are just in certain areas of the building that could be good, too.] However, if nothing else happens, there is one good thing that may come of this... should the company take the advice. When the ladies were doing their testing, the maintenance guy was pretty much following them around. During that excursion, they told him about a janitorial supply outlet that has bathroom soap (sold by the 5-gallon bucket) that is FRAGRANCE FREE. That one simple change would make a huge difference all by itself. It has often crossed my mind that people who use the water cooler may have visited after washing their hands. The soap scents would be brought with them by default.
I guess time will tell. The testing results will need to be processed and evaluated, reports written and final assessments made. I was told that I may get a copy of the results automatically, but if I don't, I can request a copy. In either case, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what will happen.
Until that time, each day is just like the day before - be vigilant and take things as they come. Thanks for listening!
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Godspeed & God Bless
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