WeWork pulls thousands of telephone kiosks out of operation over formaldehyde fright – TechCrunch
WeWork, the cooperative empire that was once valued at $ 47 billion before reality hit and threw business and investors into crisis, has another problem to add to its growing pile – one that doesn't exactly reflect well in its core business for to cut out and maintain modern working environments.
This issue is a security issue affecting users of WeWork collaboration spaces in the United States and Canada. Today, the company emailed members in the regions to warn that around 1,600 telephone kiosks installed at WeWork locations have been found to have elevated levels of formaldehyde ̵[ads1]1; which it warns could cause health problems for people exposed to the gas . [19659002] WeWork blames a booth manufacturer.
The booths are provided in their collaboration space for WeWork members to take calls privately – given other common areas are shared by all users.
“After a member informed us of odor and eye irritation, WeWork performed an analysis, including having an external consultant conduct a series of tests on a sampling of telephone kiosks. After receiving results late last week, we started taking out all potential telephone kiosks, "it is written in an email to members.
Affected telephone kiosks" are withdrawn immediately, and will be removed from your site as soon as possible, it adds.
In addition to ~ 1,600 booths that are confirmed to be affected, an additional 700 boats are taken out of service in what WeWork describes as "a plethora of caution" – ie while performing multiple checks – with promise of a further update once it has completed the tests.
Members who want to know which booths are safe to use in the meantime are asked to contact the community team at their WeWork location.
WeWork also says that alternative quiet rooms will be provided, for example in conference rooms and unused offices.
Discussion of the health risk of formaldehyde gas – a chemical used in various building materials –WeWork e-mail warns: “Short-term exposure to formaldehyde at elevated levels can cause acute temporary irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory tract, including coughing or wheezing. These effects are usually transient and usually subside after removal of the formaldehyde source.
“Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde, such as those experienced by workers in jobs that experience high concentrations over many years, has been associated with certain types of cancers. . You can find further information in this FAQ from the Work Environment Authority. "
The email encourages all WeWork members with health problems to contact a physician.
A tipster who sent us the email reported experiencing a" burning eyes "feeling after using the booths.
They also said that several in their team had experienced the same thing.
"Someone complained that they felt nauseous after spending time inside the booths," wrote "I've never felt it, but the burning eyes were 100% there for me several times. Scary stuff."
Reached for comment, a WeWork spokesperson confirmed the formaldehyde issue and said it takes "a number of "Stalls out of operation in" some "locations in the United States and Canada – due to" potentially elevated levels of formaldehyde caused by the manufacturer. "
" Our members' safety and well-being is our top priority and we are working to remedy this the situation as quickly as possible, "add is it in a statement.
It is not clear how many WeWork locations contain affected booths at this time.
WeWork also did not provide more detailed information on how long members may have been exposed to elevated levels of formaldehyde – with their email only suggesting some of the booths have been in place for "months."
"The potentially affected phone booths have been installed in recent months, the exact time varies by location," it writes.
Although c Learly exposure levels will vary from person to person depending on their use of the booths.
The company did not answer a question asking if any of the international WeWork sites are affected by the problem.
