If your workplace involves spray painting, baking, welding, or working with cleaning products, occupational asthma could be affecting your employees. The good news? It’s preventable, and early detection can stop long-term damage.
What is Occupational Asthma?
Occupational asthma is asthma caused by breathing in harmful substances at work. Unlike regular asthma, this type is directly triggered by workplace exposures.
Here’s what makes it tricky: workers can be perfectly healthy when they start, but over time their body becomes sensitive to certain substances. Once this happens, even tiny amounts of exposure can trigger asthma symptoms.
Is Your Business at Risk?
The Health and Safety Executive has identified high-risk industries:
- Bakeries and food manufacturing (flour and grain dust)
- Spray painters and vehicle repairers (isocyanates in paints)
- Welders (welding fumes)
- Healthcare workers (latex and cleaning products)
- Woodworkers (wood dust)
- Beauty and cleaning services (various chemicals)
- Laboratory workers (animal proteins and chemicals)
If your business falls into any of these categories, you need to act.
Spotting the Warning Signs
Your employees might be developing occupational asthma if they experience:
- Wheezing or whistling when breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Persistent coughing
The key indicator? Symptoms improve when away from work—on weekends or holidays—and return when they’re back at work.
Why Early Detection is Critical
Catch occupational asthma early and reduce exposure quickly, and you can often prevent long-term damage. Workers might see their symptoms stop completely.
However, once someone is sensitised to a substance, it becomes a lifelong trigger. They’ll need to avoid it forever, potentially meaning a complete career change. That’s why prevention and early detection matter—for your employees’ wellbeing and your business continuity.
What Should You Do?
Implement Health Surveillance
If your workplace involves high-risk activities, you should have regular health checks in place. This might include:
- Questionnaires about symptoms
- Breathing tests (spirometry)
- Peak flow monitoring
Prevention Strategies
You can significantly reduce risks by:
- Using safer alternative substances where possible
- Improving ventilation and extraction systems
- Providing proper protective equipment
- Training staff on safe handling procedures
- Making safety data sheets available and understood
Your Legal Responsibility
The Health and Safety Executive requires health surveillance in workplaces where employees are exposed to substances known to cause occupational asthma. This isn’t optional—it’s your legal duty.
The Bottom Line
Occupational asthma is preventable with the right controls and regular health monitoring. Healthy employees mean a healthier, more productive business.
Unsure whether your workplace needs health surveillance? Get professional advice today. Phone us 0800 193 6222 or email ohteam@hawkeshealth.com
Need help setting up health surveillance for your workplace? Contact us to find out how we can support your business in keeping your employees safe and healthy.Retry