Causing occupational asthma - The riskiest jobs

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Asthma affects more than 300 million people worldwide – but did you know that your job could put you more at risk of developing the condition?

Although some people are born with asthma and have it from childhood, studies predict that 16% of adults who develop it later in life is caused due to their occupation.

This is because in some types of work, employees are exposed to irritants and chemicals which can trigger respiratory diseases without the correct protection in place.

Causing occupational asthma

However, your employer should ensure you have the correct protection from chemicals and irritants and training to minimise your risk of developing respiratory diseases while at work.

Asthma can contribute to serious, debilitating conditions, and can cause life-long damage to your lungs without the correct medical attention, or even result in a life-threatening asthma attack.

If you believe you have developed occupational asthma or any respiratory disease as a result of your work, you may be entitled to claim against your employer.

We have rounded up everything you need to know about occupational asthma and jobs that might put you at risk:

Jobs at highest risk of causing occupational asthma

Hairdressers
Animal handlers (including veterinary nurses and pet groomers)
Chefs
Cleaners
Construction workers
Metal workers
Textile workers
Chemical manufacturers
Carpet makers

What is occupational asthma

Occupational asthma is also known as work-related asthma caused by exposure to certain substances such as chemicals and dust.

Asthma is caused by the swelling and inflammation of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs, which causes them to narrow – and breathing in these irritants can trigger this.

There is currently no cure for asthma but medications and treatments are available to help to keep the condition under control.

What can cause occupational asthma

More than 400 workplace substances have been identified as possible triggers of occupational asthma. According to the UK Health and Safety Executive, the highest number of new occupational asthma cases are caused by exposure to isocyanates and grain/flour with exposure to wood dusts being the next largest cause.

So, workers that are exposed to these types of compounds or substances are in a higher risk bracket for the development of occupational asthma. Some of these substances include:

Chemicals
Cleaning products
Paints
Animal fur
Insects
Mould
Dusts
Plant substances
Gases or smoke
Metals
Powders/flour

Symptoms of occupational asthma

Occupational asthma symptoms may appear immediately at the time of being exposed to the irritant or can develop hours after – which can make it difficult to work out what exactly is causing the issue.

However, if you notice that your symptoms come on whilst or after being at work, or they subside when you have time off, it could be possible that you have developed occupational asthma.

Occupational Asthma Symptoms include:

Severe shortness of breath
Coughing
Wheezing
Tightness in the chest

The above symptoms of commonly experienced by sufferers of asthma. In cases of occupational asthma studies have shown that the following symptoms are often a pre-curser to the development of occupational asthma –

Rhinitis (runny nose)
Conjunctivitis

How to prevent occupational asthma

To prevent occupational asthma and minimise risk, you should ensure that contact with causative agents is controlled. Follow these four steps to prevent exposure.

Elimination of the substance or process
Replacement with a less hazardous substance
Enclosure of the process
Ventilation of the local area or the entire workplace
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE). However, the use of RPE does not completely prevent the onset of occupational asthma and should not be relied upon as the main or only means of prevention.

Laws and regulations

To minimise the risk of occupational asthma and protect workers, employers should abide by the relevant laws and regulations.

The legal position – Relevant laws and regulations

The main health and safety laws and regulations relating to occupational asthma include:

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to “ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work”.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess and control risks to health in the workplace; to appoint competent persons to assist them with their responsibilities for health and safety and to provide their employees with appropriate information and training.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health and defines when health surveillance must be performed.
The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 require employers to provide and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment to employees.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) requires employers and self-employed people to report cases of occupational asthma “where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitizer”.

9 jobs most at risk of causing occupational asthma