to think my colleagues are wimps?

[StuckInTheMiddleWithYou]

I work in an office.

A few days ago a rather strong smell wafted into the office.

Looking out of the window there was a group of workman busy re-tarring the roof next door. Big deal I thought...

However...

Cue numerous paniced emails circulating about the strange smell, complaints to security and a genuine, non-ironic coversation about the dangers of industrial disease and Tokyo subways...

Some of my colleagues genuinely seemed to think that they may immediately aquire serious lung/nerve damage and that the workman should down tools immediately.

Are they wimps?

sounds like they need to concentrate on their jobs!

Yes, maybe they are trying to get some time off while the office is filled with toxic fumes

Fwiw I love the smell of tar!

They are wimps, but for a bit of drama at the office on an otherwise boring day, I'd go along with it!

Probably.

However some people, incluing myself, have a really sensitive sense of smell. Something like that would really bother me, not so much because of the fumes etc, but because the smell would be completely overpowering & probably make me feel really sick after a relatively small period of continuous exposure.

It's much more acute when I'm pregnant too.

i think they over reacted a bit. but i can see their point. i like the smell of tar but for somone who can't stand it having to work in that all day would be awful.