A range of floor coverings are used within workplaces, with different materials selected for different types of work undertaken. Some floor coverings or sealants which emit fumes even at low levels can affect employees with respiratory conditions, allergies or chemical sensitivities.
Other floor coverings such as concrete may result in employees experiencing difficulty standing for long periods as they are too hard or cold. As such, there are many alternative floor coverings or floor covering solutions that can support the individual needs of employees in a workplace (Asthma Tasmania (no date specified); Asthma Foundation (no date specified); Eco Wise 2006; Job Accommodation Network 2007; OHS Reps @ Work (no date specified)).
Links to specific types of floor covering alternative products:
References:
Asthma Tasmania (no date specified), Pamphlet: Breathe easy not wheezy – Make your home asthma friendly, Asthma Tasmania, Battery Point, viewed 8 August 2008, http://www.asthmatas.org.au/pdf/Asthma%20Brochure.pdf
Asthma Foundation (no date specified),Towards the Low Allergy Home, The Asthma Foundation of Western Australia Inc., viewed 8 August 2008, West Perth, http://www.asthmawa.org.au/files/factsheets/Towards%20the%20Low%20Allergen%20Home.pdf
Eco Wise 2006, Lock Out Carpet Sealer, Eco-Wise, Texas, viewed 8 August 2008, http://www.ecowise.com/product_info.php?products_id=290
Job Accommodation Network 2007, Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Environmental Illness, U.S. Department of Labour, West Virginia, viewed 8 August 2008, http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/MCS.html
OHS Reps @ Work (no date specified), Multiple Chemical Sensitivity – What is it?, OHS Reps @ Work, Melbourne, viewed 8 August 2008, http://www.ohsrep.org.au/hazards/chemicals/multiple-chemical-sensitivity/index.cfm