Posted By Martin J Morley Can anyone help with details of a competent person to prove (or disprove) the existence of SBS in a building in Norfolk? Yes, I've seen the previous posting and read the news report (I even read the HSE guidance once). There may very well be management issues but there certainly were some problems with the building. The staff think it's the building, even one doctor says so! Any help or advice welcome, martin

Posted By Helen Horton Morale and low motivation has a lot to do with problems of this sort but try to rule out the obvious building issues too. Lighting levels not right for the tasks; uncomfortable/unsuitable chairs and furniture; aircon that showers everyone with dust and dirt; fluctuating temperatures and draughts from poorly designed heating and all the other things that add up to an uncomfortable workplace. For instance it makes people very disconcerted if everytime they walk across the room they get charged up with so much static that they almost glow in the dark and strike sparks from every door handle and light switch. I have felt this effect and it makes you feel really strange in a sort of restless way that you can't put your finger on. The other one I have come across is fleas in the carpets, especially carpet tiles. Apparently this is quite common as many carpet warehouses have mice and rats and so have cats to cure this problem and of course where you have mice, rats and cats you get fleas. As the fleas go through their life cycle whole groups of people get "rashes" of little bites at regular intervals. Not sure if this helps you but it may give you a clue as why your workforce are unhappy, obviously any management problem superimposed on the picture will exacerbate their feelings. Afterall it's easier to blame the building than blame your manager, buildings can't talk back.