It’s estimated that at least 21 million adults in the UK alone suffer from at least one allergy, and that of those 21 million, around 10 million have more than one allergy.

When you consider the effect that allergy symptoms can have on a person – and the side effects that common allergy treatments can have – then it’s clear that this has a large impact on the average working environment.

Allergic reactions range from skin conditions, breathing difficulties and other minor symptoms to severe problems including anaphylactic shock, which can be lethal if not treated immediately. They may be caused by coming into physical contact with allergens, breathing them in or consuming them. Although many allergies can be treated effectively, drugs like antihistamines can often cause side effects such as drowsiness, which may mean the employee is less effective at their job.

Some industries are more affected by allergies than others, because the nature of the work involves exposure to common allergens. In many cases, people can develop allergic symptoms through repeated exposure to a particular substance, or repeated exposure can cause existing symptoms to worsen. For example, people working in the health care sector are far more likely to suffer latex allergies than members of the general population, because they use latex gloves on a daily basis and are therefore exposed to the latex proteins that cause the allergic reaction. It is for this reason that many health care providers now rely more heavily on nitrile gloves and other latex-free alternatives.

The most effective way of relieving the symptoms of an allergy is quite simply to avoid the allergen which causes it – but avoiding exposure is not always simple. For example, if an allergic person goes to a restaurant they may need to ask how their food will be prepared; will there be any danger of cross contamination? It may sound bizarre, but for a person with a severe allergy it only takes a miniscule amount to trigger a reaction – as small as a sandwich that’s been handled by somebody in latex gloves, or that’s been packaged in the same area as products containing peanuts. Making sure that your customer-facing staff know what products and procedures are in place – whether your food preparation staff use latex gloves or vinyl gloves, whether you have the facilities to cook a specific meal in a dairy-free area, etc. – will help them to advise your customers accordingly.

In any workplace, it is important to be aware of allergies and deal with them sympathetically. Take them into account whenever you’re arranging activities that may include triggers – for example, pot luck dinners or even a cake brought into the office to celebrate a special occasion can be a nightmare situation for somebody who has food allergies. This can be alleviated by simply asking people to be aware, to label any food that they bring in which may be unsafe, and to avoid bringing in any products which may trigger particularly severe reactions.

For those with airborne allergies, systems like the Cleanaer air purifier can be extremely helpful, as they can massively reduce dust and pollen levels in the air and offer relief from symptoms without needing to rely on antihistamines. It may also be possible to locate the employee’s desk in a part of the office that is less affected by their particular triggers.

If you suspect that you have a workplace allergy, it is important to get a proper diagnosis, so that you and your employer can take the right corrective measures. Keep a record of when you have your symptoms, and what activities they are associated with, and consult your doctor. It is possible to test for most allergies, and once you have your diagnosis you’ll be much clearer on what exactly you need to avoid. You can then talk to your employer about the particular measures you may need to take.

Here at the Glove Club, we offer a wide range of products that can help in dealing with allergies in the workplace; alongside latex-free gloves and air purification systems, we also offer a range of cleaning chemicals to help remove allergens from your workplace and protective face masks which can reduce the effect of airborne allergens. For more information on these or any of our products, call us on 0500 456 832 today.