Asthma

Publications

This guide for employers, employees and their representatives describes the causes and symptoms of occupational asthma. It also includes information on solutions and health surveillance.

Respiratory sensitisers and COSHH (27.1KB)

This leaflet for employers tells about the symptoms and effects of occupational asthma and the legal duty to protect employees from exposure to respiratory sensitisers.

Health surveillance

Health surveillance means regularly looking for early signs of work related ill health. Where a risk of occupational asthma is identified, all employees exposed or likely to be exposed to the asthmagen should receive suitable health surveillance. Collecting simple information can help with the early detection of occupational asthma and identify the need for improved control measures.You may find the following suggested health questionnaires useful:

Industry specific guidance:

Motor vehicle repair

Safe working with 2-pack isocyanate paints (102KB)

This guidance is aimed at employers, self-employed people, supervisors and employees involved in spray, brush or roller painting of motor vehicle body panels. It explains how exposure to isocyanates in 2-pack paints could affect workers’ health and outlines some of the precautions that can be taken to protect against the main risks.

Woodworking

Wood dust - hazards and precautions (18.5KB)

This information leaflet details the hazards (including occupational asthma) arising from wood dust and how they can be controlled.

Selection of respiratory protective equipment suitable for use with wood dust (63.4KB)

All wood dust (including dust from composites like chipboards and fibre boards etc) is hazardous to health. It can affect the nose, the respiratory system and the skin. This information sheet advises employers on the selection of respiratory protective equipment for use with wood dust, both hardwood and softwood.

Engineering

Working safely with metalworking fluids (62.9KB)

This leaflet aims to help employees who work with metalworking fluids understand the main risks to their health. It contains general advice on the precautions which you and your employer can take to avoid these risks.

Agriculture

Farmer's lung (161KB)

This leaflet desribes the health hazards and symptoms arising from exposure to agricultural dusts and gives guidance on how to control such exposure.

Controlling grain dust on farms (40KB)

This information sheet examines and assesses the processes in agriculture which create grain dust, gives advice on how the dust can be controlled; provides information about legal requirements and aims to protect the health of those coming into contact with grain dust at work.