No Difference in Rates of Absenteeism between Workers in Air-Conditioned Offices and Naturally Ventilated Ones: A Data Base Study

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine if continuous exposure to air- conditioning during working hours has an observable effect on health. Absen teeism from ill health recorded by company doctors was compared in two groups of employees of the French National Electric and Gas Company in western France, working in similar jobs and spending most of their time in either air- conditioned offices or a natural atmosphere. No difference between the two groups was observed during the two years studied with respect to the incidence, duration or frequency of medically-related absences. A similar investigation of absences due only to respiratory diseases resulted in the same conclusion. This study showed that air-conditioning has no major effects on health.

Keywords

Air-conditioning Absenteeism Respiratory diseases

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