This article is sourced from the CoSHH Approved Code of Practice which examines how substances that cause occupational asthma can be controlled.
Occupational asthma is a condition characterised by variable air flow limitation which has been caused by the conditions stemming from the workplace. Occupational asthma may be caused by manufactured substances or naturally occurring materials.
All substances which cause occupational asthma are within the definition of substances hazardous to health for the purposes of the CoSHH Regulations. Therefore, CoSHH Regulations apply and should be followed by employers.
A CoSHH assessment needs to be created by employers to assess how health may be affected in places where hazardous substances are being used.
The CoSHH assessment should establish which hazards have the potential to cause asthma during work activity.
It should decide who might be harmed as a result and how. Which activities involving employees are likely to involve exposure?
The risks involved need to be evaluated and then a decision made as to whether existing precautions are adequate or not. If exposure can be prevented all the better however, if not the potential risk for each activity should be considered.
Any findings should be recorded and employers with five or more workers must list the most notable findings.
The CoSHH assessment should then be analysed and revised as necessary. All relevant measures should be identified to ensure their effectiveness.
Control measures and good working practices for substances which cause asthma should take account of the gravity of the health impacts which may result from a failure of control.
Employers are required by the CoSHH regulations to protect the health of employees who have developed occupational asthma, this is regardless of how low the level of exposure is.
Assessments should be reviewed frequently and should be done immediately wherever a case of occupational asthma is confirmed.
When a new case of asthma is confirmed, the employer should have a set of measures in place which should include the protection of the person while the cause of the symptoms is investigated. The assessment and control measures need to be reviewed. Plus the case must be reported to the enforcing authority if a doctor has notified the employer of it in writing.
If it is possible, then exposure to substances with the potential to cause asthma should be prevented .If this isn't possible, then exposure should be limited to prevent employees from developing asthma as a result of exposure.
Should an individual develop occupational asthma, then their exposure to the substance must be controlled to prevent further attacks.
Any employee that is exposed to a substance which can cause asthma should be monitored by health surveillance. This should include the upkeep of a health record for each exposed employee.
Employees should also be equipped with suitable and sufficient information including the symptoms of occupational asthma.
They should be given in depth training by employers, including induction training before the job starts.
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