Mycteria

Reports published by the Institution of Occupational Safety (IOSH) show an alarming rise in the cases of occupational asthma is the UK’s workplaces with as many as 1,500 to 3,000 people getting affected every year. IOSH has warned employers of the need to protect their workers from this disease.

As many as seven thousand people in the UK are affected by occupational asthma caused due to workplace conditions, and in some cases it worsens for persons already suffering from asthma. In some cases, the condition becomes serious enough to deny them a chance to continue their work.

Due to these reasons, employers are losing as much as 18 million working days every year which translates into a £1.1 billion loss to the society each decade.

The workers most susceptible to this risk, according to IOSH, are vehicle spray painters coming in contact with isocyanates, a carcinogenic compound found in paints; bakers and flour confectioners who breathe in flour dust; moulders, die casters and core makers who end up inhaling glutaraldehyde, glues, wood dust or solder fumes; and veterinarians who may suffer from asthma due to animal fur.

The IOSH’s President, Ms Nattasha Freeman, reiterated that employers have a legal and moral obligation to ensure protection to their workers who are exposed to harmful substances. In cases where it cannot be avoided, it should be the endeavour of the employers to at least provide personal protective equipment to mitigate the effects. For advice on the needs of your particular organisation, click on IOSH Managing Safety from Workplace Law Training.

Freeman also stated that about 20% of respiratory diseases cause fatal casualties in the UK while invalidating many more. There is an urgent need to take steps to ensure protection against asthma attacks and other respiratory diseases. Employers should also seek guidance from health and safety professionals to keep this unpleasant disease and its triggers at bay.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009 at 4:54 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.