Workers warned of renovating risks

Safety Occupational Health and Environment Division deputy director Dr Pibul Issarapan urged affected employees to find work elsewhere, as wearing facemasks would not help protect them. He said oilbased paint used in some office decoration consisted of harmful substances such as toluene which could affect the nervous system and lead to the above symptoms. Illness could develop after inhaling paint for only 30 minutes  but would go away if workers left the area rapidly. However, constant exposure could cause chronic symptoms and affect a person’s memory, he added. Inhaling dust during renovation also caused allergy, rash, eye irritation and worsening lung conditions, he said.