Self-reported mould and long-term sickness absences from work

Abstract

Aims: The impact of indoor mould on employees’ long-term absence from sickness (more than 10 days of absence) is poorly understood. This paper examines whether self-reported mould was related to long-term absences from work between 1 and 3 years later. Methods: By using negative binomial modelling, we analysed a representative sample of the working-age population in Finland ( N = 16,084) from the Finnish Quality of Work Life Surveys in 1997, 2003, 2008 and 2013 combined with the register-based follow-up data of participants’ long-term sickness absences covering a period of 1 to 3 years after the Finnish Quality of Work Life Surveys was collected. Results: After all necessary background, work- and health-related factors were included in the model, employees who reported mould in their work had 1.20 higher rates of long-term sickness absence than those who did not report mould (mould: estimated marginal mean = 13.45 days; no mould: estimated marginal mean = 11.23). If employees perceived that mould caused strain, they had 1.30 higher rates of long-term absence than those who did not report such strain (mould caused strain: estimated marginal mean = 14.64 days; mould did not cause strain: estimated marginal mean = 11.25). In total, 10% ( N=1628) of employees reported mould in their workplace and 6% ( N=987) reported that mould caused strain. Conclusions: Supervisors, occupational physicians and other authorities need to take employees’ complaints of mould in the workplace seriously.

Prevalence and extent of moisture damage in Finnish housing

“…Exposure to indoor moisture and mould can lead to various physical health concerns in occupants, such as asthma and respiratory symptoms, and the associated stress can contribute to poor mental health [4]. Symptoms from exposure are estimated to cost around €23-953 million euros annually in Finland due to healthcare costs and productivity loss [5], while repairs cost around €1.2-1.6 billion annually [6]. Due to these political, health, and economic impacts, there has been considerable research and attention into moisture damage and indoor air quality issues in Finnish buildings.…”