Early intervention and immediate corrective action
In this section, we outline the legal
context for and the methods of carrying out inhalation risk
assessments.
Helping an employee with
respiratory problems
Immediate medical
advice
Information about specific
conditions
Advice for employers
Advice for employees
Reviewing the management
protection programme
Helping an employee with respiratory problems
The HSE recommends early intervention for all work-related ill
health as a key aspect of ensuring the best outcome for the
employee and the employer. It’s important to protect an individual
who has a suspected occupational respiratory problem from further
exposure while the cause or causes of the symptoms are identified
and investigated. Once an employee has developed respiratory
symptoms, exposure must be controlled to prevent further problems,
and the employee should avoid being exposed to the substance. As a
last resort, the employer and/or employee may have to consider if
the employee should be given a new role.
Not all respiratory problems are due to occupational factors, and
employers need to consider whether an employee’s condition has been
made worse by work, or whether the condition could make work
difficult. For example, a person with asthma or COPD may find it
difficult to carry out heavy physical work or wear respiratory
protection.
Immediate medical advice
When an employee develops a respiratory problem, they should be
put in touch with the employer’s occupational health service
(occupational physician or occupational nurse). If the employer
doesn’t have an occupational health service, the employee should be
advised to consult their GP. It’s important that the employee
provides information about their work and the materials they’re
exposed to so that the health practitioner can make an informed
judgment about the likely cause and prescribe appropriate
treatment.
Employees can get advice from the NHS
Direct website, or by calling 0845 4647. With serious
respiratory problems, expert medical advice should be sought as
soon as possible.
Information about specific conditions
The HSE provides brief descriptions of asthma and
COPD.
Asthma UK has extensive information about asthma and
asthma at work. It also has information on
hayfever and rhinitis.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence offers
guidance on:
The British Lung Foundation has comprehensive information on
lung conditions and diseases, including
occupational lung disease,
asthma,
allergy,
COPD,
extrinsic allergic alveolitis,
asbestos,
lung cancer and
mesothelioma.
The website of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and
Safety has comprehensive factsheets on asthma,
COPD,
farmer’s
lung and extrinsic
allergic alveolitis. It also has information on infections,
including anthrax,
avian
influenza, Legionnaires’
disease and psittacosis.
This site focuses on these diseases from an occupational point of
view. As well as providing information on causes, symptoms,
diagnosis and treatment, the website also offers information on
occupations at risk, associated substances that can cause a
problem, and outlines preventive measures.
You can also get information on respiratory diseases
here.
Advice for employers
It’s important that you investigate respiratory problems
thoroughly to identify the causes and prevent further exposure.
Occupational physicians and respiratory or chest physicians can
help to identify and manage respiratory problems. They may use skin
prick tests, measure
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in serum, or carry out ‘bronchial
challenge tests’ to identify whether a particular substance is
causing rhinitis or asthma. Occupational hygienists can also help
you identify and control risks.
The free Health for Work Adviceline for
Small Business helps you to quickly and effectively address the
issue of employee ill health, minimise the impact of staff illness,
and provide essential support to staff with physical or mental
health issues.
If a doctor confirms that an employee is suffering from an
occupational lung disease, you must report it to the HSE under the
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.
Advice for employees
If you have a breathing problem, you should tell your manager
and/or safety representative immediately. You should also speak to
your manager and/or safety representative if controls aren't
effective. This includes respirators that aren’t working properly.
It’s important that you have a lung function test and attend health
surveillance sessions if your employer asks you.
Reviewing the management protection programme
If you detect respiratory problems in the workplace, you should
review your protection programme, or develop one if you don’t have
one already. The programme should cover:
- risk assessment
- control measures
- monitoring of exposure
- health surveillance
- education and training
These aspects are discussed further in
Preventive action and early intervention. Avoiding
long-term incapacity for work: Developing an early intervention in
primary care is a Peninsula Medical School literature review
which provides an evidence base for early intervention in sickness
absence.
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Stress | Musculoskeletal disorders | Skin disorders | Inhalation disorders