FC NOW: The Fast Company Weblog
October 11, 2006
Another Good Reason to Work From Home...
If you’re one of the four million people who ride New York City’s subway system everyday, you know how awful a train sounds as it comes screeching to a halt in the station. But, you may not know that it’s ruining your hearing.
In the new study "Pilot Survey of Subway and Bus Stop Noise Levels," published in the September issue of the Journal of Public Health, researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health say that subway noise can exceed recommended guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency. Thirty minutes of exposure per day, they say, can result in hearing loss.
In fact, the average maximum noise on subway platforms is almost as loud as a chainsaw (94 to 100 decibels). So every once in a while, it might not be a bad idea to call in pre-sick.
Posted by Josie Swindler at October 11, 2006 2:49 PM | Category: travel |
2 Comments
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I can't believe that no-one has responded to this posting!!! Firstly, I don't think anyone should be encouraged to call in sick, even if it's because their commuting is making them sick. If that is the case, employeers and employees have to consider alternatives, one of which is home-working. I don't know the numbers, but over the next 10-20 years, working from home is going to soar. Let's face it - commuting is a drag, it's a waste of time and working from an office does not necessarily mean more productivity. But working from home, as I know from first-hand experience, requires a lot more discipline than working from a corporate office. Not everyone can do it, or flourish from it. But for employers and employees, the ability (and flexibility) of home-working can reap huge rewards - reduced costs, more time spent working vs commuting, work/life balance. I think it's a dialogue that more companies need to be having with their employees.
I'm surprised at the posting and the comment!! The concept of working at home is real as is the threat of exposure to toxic chemicals. Interestingly enough, however, there is no law requiring manufacturers to label products for household consumption. Therefore, many may fool themseleves by thinking their home environment is safer let alone any work environment. Carpeting gives off Formaldehyde - look for the word "Quanternium-15" which is a formaldehyde releaser and you will also find of of 30+ brand names for formaldehyde. In addition, look at the phenols and dioxin in products like Pledge and Lysol!! This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to household toxins!! I suggest everyone make their homes safe and work from the comfort of your home - for yourself but not by yourself. Contact me for more indept information - either from your home or from your work. ALL THAT MATTERS IS BEING WELL!!! Michael info@ToxicPreventionSpecialist.com