Evaluation of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) employees under traditional and remote work environments

Abstract

Following the success of remote work in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, several organizations have considered choosing a permanent remote work policy for their employees over the traditional face-to-face setup. The primary determinants that dictate adopting a permanent working environment are often centered on cost-related considerations with little regard for the slow onset of occupational health hazards. Studies have identified various health hazards experienced by BPO personnel, including headaches, back pain, neck and shoulder discomfort, wrist and hand pain, eye strain, overweight, hearing loss, and digestion issues. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is a term used to describe such symptoms that manifest in response to exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF)-emitting devices. In the context of the Philippines, most are unaware of the potential implications of EMF exposure, hence it is worthwhile to closely investigate the EHS of BPO employees. This study aims to investigate the health-effects of EMF-emitting devices on BPO personnel in both traditional and remote work setups. The study used a web-based questionnaire to collect and assess data from two discrete populations. A self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to pre-assess the respondents’ general wellness and health status. Statistical significance was established using the independent t-test. Principal component analysis was used to identify the major symptoms associated with EHS, whereas the EMF sources were analyzed using an independent sample t-test with bootstrapping. Based on the SRQ-20, traditional BPO personnel encounter health risks with statistically higher severity (p < 0.05) than their remote counterparts which may infer that the two different working settings possibly have distinct effects on the health of the workers. However, upon further evaluation, the two distinct populations both exhibited negligible to moderate indications of EHS symptoms in separate environments. A significant difference in the perception of BPO workers is observed regarding the intensity of the effects of EMF across all possible sources except three specific devices: a computer, a television, and a television or radio transmitter. However, the source analysis indicates that the influence of EMF-emitting devices on the EHS of employees is low to negligible in both occupational settings. The study concluded that there is an absence of potential health risks stemming from exposure to EMF in both occupational settings for BPO employees. Considering the negligible impact of EMF exposure on EHS symptoms, BPO industries possess the flexibility to choose between the two work setups, as both environments do not pose significant EMF-related occupational health and safety threats.