Government urged to protect workers' health
19 January 2006

Asthma UK, Cancer Research UK and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have called on the Government to help the working population become more physically active to improve their health.

The three organisations are campaigning on the issues raised in their joint manifesto, 'Active Workplaces? Active Communities? Active Government?', through a series of seminars in the Houses of Parliament, which will highlight the importance of physical activity for maintaining good health and well-being.

The seminars kicked off yesterday with 'Workplace Health and Physical Activity', hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health. Speakers from the sponsoring organisations and from the Federation of Small Businesses, the Disability Rights Commission, and Lord Hunt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary from the Department of Work and Pensions, each highlighted the need for all employers to develop strong occupational health services.

'Sometimes workplaces can be pretty unhealthy places to be,' acknowledged Lord Hunt, the Minister with responsibility for these issues. The UK loses 28 million working days to work-related ill health each year.

Expressing his support for the Physical Activity Manifesto, which he said 'strongly ties in with the Government's aims', Lord Hunt hinted that the imminent Green Paper from his Department would address some aspects of occupational health.

Asthma UK's research shows that 750,000 people with asthma find their symptoms are triggered or worsened due to exposure to certain substances in the workplace and that up to 3,000 people a year will develop occupational asthma following such exposure.

A wide variety of substances can set off asthma symptoms and affect people working in jobs as diverse as baking (flour, pictured), or hairdressing (chemical dyes). To help combat this, Asthma UK has developed 'Asthma at Work - Your Charter' which aims to make workplaces safer for people with asthma.

This seminar series will continue on Tuesday 14 February when Parliamentarians will be discussing the issues surrounding children's and young people's health and physical activity. For further details please contact Victoria Walsh on vwalsh@asthma.org.uk or 020 7786 4938

For advice and information on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline (08457 01 02 03, 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)