The role of cleaning products in the workplace has been emphasised in new research on asthma caused by exposure to substances at work.
Published in the journal Thorax, the study of more than 7000 people estimates exposure to substances at work is a factor in one in six cases of adult-onset asthma among British people in their mid-50s. It is acknowledged that many of these cases may be related to past exposure, but by the HSE’s calculations, there are still 1500 new cases of work-related asthma each year.
People can develop the condition if they inhale fine particles into their airways, causing a reaction. The report found that 9 per cent of people who had no asthma in childhood developed the disease by age 42, and that this was associated with 18 different occupations. Four of these were cleaning occupations and another three were likely to involve the use of cleaning products.
Lead researcher Dr Rebecca Ghosh drew attention to the role of cleaning agents, but hundreds of occupational agents are linked to asthma, including flour, grain and detergents. She said: “Occupational asthma is widely under-recognised by employers, employees and health-care professionals. Raising awareness that this is an almost entirely preventable disease would be a major step in reducing its incidence.”
The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) points out that substances that may damage health must be substituted if reasonably practicable, and in other cases, adequate control measures must be used. Personal protective equipment is an option, but the Society believes occupational asthma and other work-related lung diseases can be better prevented through occupational-hygiene measures.
It is calling on government, industry and workers’ representatives to help raise awareness of occupational lung disease and prevent new cases through cost-effective control.
The research can be found at: http://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2013/01/08/thoraxjnl-2012-202151
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.
We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.
Not wishing to dismiss the research; has the polluted atmosphere been adequately considered in this report. Diesel particulates and other emissions, along with the increase in hormones within foods and general pollutants endemic throughout society have also increased allergic reactions.
What about the effects of smoking, how many asthma sufferers are, or were smokers?
The nations health is suffering, but not everything is due to work! MH injury through weight and sedentary life is an example.