Allergies at Work

Hello everyone! My name is Nick, and I’m an 18-year-old with severe allergies to peanuts and all tree nuts.

Recently, I finished my first year of university and received a summer job working as a Business Analyst. It has been a brand new experience for me, since it’s my first time working in an office.

When I started work, one of the questions that popped up in my head was, “What was I going to do about my allergies?” Despite it being a totally new experience, I treated the situation like I was at high school or university. Spreading knowledge is the best defense against allergic reactions!

The first thing that I did was let Human Resources know that I had a peanut and tree nut allergy before I started work. This was convenient, since they were going to host a lunch for the students who were working for them, and they were able to make it allergy safe. Then I told my supervisor and the people who I sat around. I told them that I carry an epinephrine auto-injector, and I explained how to use it in the case of a reaction. Lastly, I followed the same allergy smart practices I would follow in any other situation, by reading food labels whenever food was offered and asking for ingredient information when not provided. Hopefully, I should have a safe and fun summer!!

For more tips on staying safe at work, check out these links:

• Why Risk It? – “Work”
• Anaphylaxis Canada – “In the Workplace”

And don’t forget to tell us about your experiences with allergies at work, by leaving a comment below.

I hope that you enjoyed my blog post, and I wish you all an allergy safe summer!