Occupational asthma

Some substances that you might come across at work can actually cause asthma. The condition can take weeks, months or even years to develop, depending on the person and the substance.

If you think your asthma has been caused by something at work, look out for these clues:

• your asthma symptoms are worse during the working week, at work or after work
• your symptoms may get worse after work, or you may find your sleep is disturbed during the night
• your symptoms improve when you have been away from work for several days (for example when you are on holiday).

Substances that can cause asthma are called respiratory sensitisers. Below is a list of some of the main ones and the jobs where you are most likely to come across them.

• Chemicals called isocyanates are the most common cause of occupational asthma in the UK. There are many jobs in which you might be exposed to these chemicals, particularly spray painting, foam moulding using adhesives, and making foundry cores and surface coatings.
• Dust from flour and grain (pictured). Industrial baking, farm work and grain transport
• Wood dust, particularly from hard wood dusts and western red cedar. Carpentry, joinery and sawmilling.
• Colophony – this is widely present in soldering fumes but also in glues and some floor cleaners. Electronics industry
• Dust from latex rubber. Any job involving latex gloves, such as nursing or dentistry
• Dust from insects and animals, and from products containing them. Laboratory work, farm work or work with shellfish

There are over 200 other respiratory sensitisers and more are being identified all the time. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) publishes a list of the best known offenders. The list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly.

You can prevent occupational asthma by avoiding exposure to respiratory sensitisers. To achieve this you should follow these steps:

• try to get any respiratory sensitisers in your workplace removed or replaced with a safe alternative
• if this isn't possible, your employer can reduce the risk by installing extractor fans or isolating you from the process that produces the risk – by putting dangerous chemicals in a fume cupboard, for example. These steps can reduce the respiratory sensitisers you breathe in
• if the above steps aren't possible, you should wear breathing equipment to stop you inhaling the respiratory sensitiser.

Often a combination of all these steps will be needed.

Your employer has a legal duty to deal with respiratory sensitisers in the workplace. This is set out in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994. Your employer should carry out a risk assessment and inform you if respiratory sensitisers are present. You should also be told how to recognise early signs of occupational asthma.

If you are working with respiratory sensitisers, it is often necessary to have regular medical checks so the condition can be spotted early.

Your employer should consult you (either directly or through your union or employee representative) about the need to control respiratory sensitisers and triggers and the steps they plan to take to do this.

Most employers will do what they can to help. If you don't think that they are doing enough you can:

• raise the issue with the person responsible for health and safety in your workplace
• tell your manager about your concerns
• contact the local HSE office (or the local council environmental health department) for advice on what to do next

Your colleagues also have a legal duty not to do things that endanger your health (such as smoking near you). Remember that having a legal right doesn't always mean you can enforce it. Be tactful and choose the right moment to raise the issue.

First of all, see your doctor straight away. If they suspect that you do have occupational asthma, they should refer you to a specialist. If occupational asthma is confirmed, your doctor should, with your consent, advise your employer to relocate you away from the respiratory sensitiser.

Diagnosis of occupational asthma does not always mean you have to leave your job. Talk to your employer and health and safety representative about other options available to you. However, if you feel leaving work is the only option, you should make a claim for compensation.

Occupational asthma may be diagnosed:

• if your asthma is worse during the working week, though not necessarily at work itself or your symptoms get worse after work, or you find your sleep is disturbed during the night
• Your symptoms may improve when you have been away from work for several days or on holiday
• If occupational asthma is suspected, you should be referred to a specialist.

If you develop asthma because of your work you should:

• tell your GP that you think the asthma was caused by your work
• tell your manager or safety officer and ask to record it in the workplace accident book
• tell your union representative. If you belong to a union they may be able to get you compensation if your employer is at fault
• make a claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit from the Benefits Agency.The Benefits Agency pays between £20 and £100 a week to people who have asthma that has been caused by certain respiratory sensitisers. There is a list of these in the relevant Benefits Agency booklet (NI 237). If your respiratory sensitiser isn't on the list, you can still claim as long as it is a 'known sensitiser'. A complete list of known respiratory sensitisers is available from the HSE.

It is important to claim your benefit as soon as possible. Payments will probably only start from the day you claim, not the day that you found out you had asthma. If you want to take legal action against your employer, your lawyer must act within three years of diagnosis.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes a lot of good, clear advice about how to prevent occupational asthma. It also employs Medical Inspectors who can give on-the-spot advice to your employer, and make sure your employer is obeying the law.

In some workplaces, such as shops, offices or hotels, your local council's Environmental Health Office will provide the same service.

You can get HSE publications from HSE Books on 01787 881165; advice from the HSE InfoLine on 0845 345 0055 (calls are in confidence); or write to HSE at their Headquarters: Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS.

Visit the Health & Safety Executive website