Wiediartini, Kharisma Innayatul Zulfa, Am Maisarah Disrinama

Identifying Significant Predictors of Sick Building Syndrome in the Office Area of a Fabrication Company

Introduction

Identifying significant predictors of sick building syndrome in the office area of a fabrication company. Discover significant predictors of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in office workers at a fabrication company. Smoking habits, lighting, and work stress significantly impact SBS symptoms. Improve workplace health.

Abstract

Introduction: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a collection of symptoms or complaints experienced by occupants of modern buildings that are felt by a person when working or doing activities inside the building and disappear when leaving the building. This study was conducted on employees in the office area of a fabrication company. This study aims to determine what factors can influence the emergence of sick building syndrome complaints. Methods: This study used a quantitative approach by collecting data from SBS questionnaires, PSS-10 questionnaires for work stress, lighting measurements, and secondary data from companies from 70 employees. The effect was tested using binary logistic regression. The variables studied included work mass, smoking habits, lighting, and work stress. Results: The results of the SBS questionnaire showed that 70% of workers (49 people) experienced SBS symptoms, such as fatigue, drowsiness, and nasal congestion. The factors that influenced this study were smoking habits (p-value = 0.004), lighting (p-value = 0.026), and work stress (p-value = 0.003). Recommendations that can be implemented include adjusting the type of lighting, implementing standard operating procedures regarding smoking bans, implementing a peer support group smoking cessation program, and providing employee suggestion boxes. Conclusion: This study concludes that smoking habits, substandard lighting, and work stress significantly affect Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms among office workers at fabrication companies. Its implications point to the need for improvements in the work environment to create a healthy and productive workplace.

Review

This study effectively investigates the prevalence and significant predictors of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) among office employees within a fabrication company, a context often associated with unique environmental considerations. Employing a quantitative approach, the authors collected data from 70 employees using SBS and PSS-10 questionnaires, objective lighting measurements, and company records. Binary logistic regression was utilized to identify influencing factors. A critical finding revealed that 70% of the surveyed workers experienced SBS symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness, and nasal congestion, underscoring the high prevalence of this issue in the studied population. The research successfully pinpoints specific factors contributing to SBS, offering valuable insights into workplace health in this setting. A notable strength of this research lies in its clear identification of key predictors—smoking habits, lighting, and work stress—which are amenable to intervention. The methodology appears sound, combining subjective symptom reporting with objective measurements (lighting), and utilizing appropriate statistical analysis (binary logistic regression) for the study's aims. The inclusion of practical recommendations is also highly commendable, providing direct actionable steps for the company. However, the abstract could benefit from a brief explanation of the "work mass" variable, as its relevance or definition is not immediately apparent. Additionally, while the study focuses on specific predictors, a broader acknowledgement of other potential environmental factors commonly associated with SBS, such as ventilation or air quality, even if not directly measured, would provide a more complete picture of the potential causative landscape in a fabrication company's office environment. The findings of this study offer a significant contribution to understanding the etiology of SBS in industrial office environments, emphasizing the critical interplay between individual behaviors, physical workspace conditions, and psychological well-being. By highlighting specific, modifiable factors, the research provides a robust foundation for developing targeted intervention strategies to mitigate SBS symptoms and enhance overall employee health and productivity. Future research could extend this work by investigating the specific characteristics of the identified "substandard lighting" and the types of work stress most impactful, potentially leading to more granular and effective solutions. Furthermore, longitudinal studies assessing the effectiveness of the proposed recommendations, such as the peer support group for smoking cessation or adjusted lighting, would be invaluable in validating their impact on reducing SBS prevalence in similar workplace settings.

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