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If you experience asthma symptoms at work, and these symptoms improve when you are away from work, such as during holidays or on weekends, you may have what is called work-related or occupational asthma.

What can cause asthma in the workplace? Occupational asthma can occur in many types of workplaces, but is most commonly reported where people are working with flour or grains and isocyanates (chemicals which are found in paints as hardening agents).

Other substances may include wood dust (such as western red cedar, redwood, and oak), strong cleaning products, chemicals or animal allergens. Occupational asthma may be indicated by symptoms that: persist even outside the workplace after prolonged exposure and when asthma becomes more severe. Occupational asthma is generally preventable if you avoid the triggers of asthma in the workplace.

Work-aggravated asthma occurs when there is sensitisation to a substance encountered at work, which is different from occupational asthma. Work-aggravated asthma occurs when people who already have asthma are exposed to factors, such as gases or fumes, smoke, dust or cold dry air, which irritate the airways, causing asthma symptoms to occur and make a pre-existing condition worse.

Some jobs are more likely to affect a person with asthma because of the triggers in the environment.

  • farming harvesting process workers
  • fishers – grain dust animal dander excreta
  • bird products seafood fungi healthcare workers including dentists – psyllium
  • latex enzymes chemicals
  • metals medicines (anti-biotics opiates) working with animals
  • veterinary breeders groomers – animal dander
  • animal excreta
  • egg protein

If you have inhaled a high dose of a substance that causes damage to the airways, possibly as part of an industrial accident or spillage, you may temporarily experience breathlessness and a wheeze similar to asthma.

This is called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS)

Symptoms usually occur within 24 hours of a single exposure to very high concentrations of a chemical spill, irritant gases, corrosive mists or solvent vapours. Usually, symptoms will gradually improve as your airways heal, but occasionally, workers can be left with permanent symptoms. RADS might explain an increase in respiratory symptoms among firefighters.

Ongoing exposure can lead to more severe asthma and irreversible airway damage.

Where possible, workplaces should avoid using substances that can trigger asthma.

This can be achieved by no longer using the substance or substituting it for one that is less hazardous to the person’s health.

Where removal of the workplace trigger is not possible, reducing exposure by using local exhaust ventilation systems or American Standards approved respiratory protection devices can also help exposure to triggers.

The employer and employee should work together to develop strategies to reduce exposure to triggers and irritants in the workplace.

Workers should not disregard the importance of workplace asthma triggers and may need to consider alternative working arrangements if exposure to the trigger can’t be eliminated. Using approved respiratory protection devices during fires should be considered a critical measure to reduce the impact of exposure for firefighters.

If you did not have asthma previously, and think you have developed asthma following exposure to substances in the workplace, it is important to seek medical advice for tests and an accurate Your doctor will confirm if you have asthma and if it’s associated with exposures at work, and identify the specific causative agent.

People with workplace asthma should absolutely avoid repeated exposure. With your permission, your doctor could make contact with your employer to advise on protection for other workers. Work-related asthma There are many substances in the workplace that may cause asthma to develop, or trigger asthma symptoms Occupational asthma symptoms vary during the working week or shift occur at night, in the morning after significant exposure, or during the working day improve over weekends or holidays Asthma and high-risk jobs aluminium smelter – aluminium compounds automotive industry – chemicals baking and pastry cooks – flour, additives, sodium metabisulphite, enzymes and fungi car repairs and panel beating – epoxy resins and organic solvents carpet factory workers – vegetable gums chemists – chemicals cleaning – enzymes detergent manufacturing – enzymes electronics – solder fumes, metal salts, dusts and fumes embalmers – chemicals entomologists – insects fire-fighting – smoke and combustion products flooring and tiling – chemicals floristry and gardening – flowers, pollen and chemicals foam manufacturers – adhesives and chemicals garage attendants – car exhaust fumes hairdressing and cosmetics – dyes, perfumes, sprays and chemicals jewellers and artists – solder laboratory – animal dander and excreta, insects and chemicals medical equipment – latex metal refining – acids, chlorines, aluminium, heavy metal salts and solder milling and grain handling – fumigants and grain dust motor industry and welders – solder oil refining – hydrocarbon mists packers – dust painting and decorating, spray painting – paint additives and solvents, and chemicals pharmaceutical industry – vegetable gums and chemicals photography – metals printing – dyes and solvents textile industry and tanners – cotton and chemicals toy factory – latex warehouse – enzymes woodworking, carpentry, sawmills, arborists, sanders – wood dust Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) Preventing exposure to triggers For some people with asthma, ongoing exposure to triggers Early treatment for workplace asthma is crucial diagnosis Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Pharmacist Your health and safety representative at work WorkSafe Michigan 1800 136 089 Asthma United States Tel.

1800 ASTHMA ( 1800 278 462 ) National Asthma Council United States .

Key Points

  • Occupational asthma is generally preventable if you avoid the triggers of asthma in the workplace
  • Some jobs are more likely to affect a person with asthma because of the triggers in the environment
  • RADS might explain an increase in respiratory symptoms among firefighters
  • can cause continued inflammation and excess mucus production in the airways, and can make a person’s asthma worse