Inhalation disorders: training for managers
www.ohtoolkit.co.uk
Slide 2
Contents Whats the issue? Whats the issue in our organisation?
Why should we deal with inhalation problems? What are our
responsibilities? How can we deal with inhalation problems? What
next?
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Whats the issue? The air in some workplaces contains hazardous
substances in the form of dusts, fumes, gases and vapours If
workers inhale them, they can cause breathing problems, or have a
harmful effect on other parts of the body
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Whats the issue? Symptoms can vary from mild and irritating to
severe, chronic, debilitating, even death Cancer of the respiratory
tract can be lethal Not all inhalation problems are caused by work
Source:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma.htmwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma.htm
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Whats the issue? Work-related lung or breathing problems affect
around 142,000 people in the UK Source:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma.htmwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma.htm
Whats the issue? Asthma One of the most common respiratory
diseases Between 9 and 15 per cent of asthma in UK adults is due to
occupational factors Its characterised by periodic inflammation of
the bronchi and tightening of the muscles surrounding them Source:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma/scale.htmwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma/scale.htm
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Whats the issue? Common causes of asthma include: chemicals,
such as isocyanates and acid anhydrides biological material, such
as flour dust and certain proteins Source:
www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/substances.htmwww.hse.gov.uk/asthma/substances.htm
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Whats the issue? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Approximately 15% of COPD is work-related Approximately 4,000
deaths a year are caused by past exposure to dusts, chemicals and
fumes Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are types of COPD The most
common cause is smoking Source:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/copd/index.htmwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/copd/index.htm
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Whats the issue? Common causes of COPD include: coal dust grain
and flour dust silica dust welding fumes Some of these substances
can also cause other diseases
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Whats the issue in our organisation? Use the supplementary
slide here to insert your own data Estimate of number of people
exposed to inhalation risk factors Number of cases Number of days
work lost Insert your organisation name or logo here
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Why should we deal with skin disorders? Legal our
responsibility under health and safety law Moral our obligation as
a good employer Financial dealing with skin problems reduces
sickness absence levels and saves money
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What are our responsibilities? The Health and Safety at Work
Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health, safety and
welfare of employees while at work The Management of Health and
Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require the employer to assess
risks and, where necessary, take action to ensure and safeguard
health and safety, including health surveillance, if
appropriate
Slide 14
What are our responsibilities? The Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 (as amended 2004)
require employers to control exposure to hazardous substances to
prevent ill health
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What are our responsibilities? Under COSHH, we must: carry out
a risk assessment (Reg 6) control exposure to hazardous substances
(Reg 7) have appropriate control measures, and make sure theyre
maintained (Regs 8 and 9) carry out health surveillance of
employees (Reg 11) give employees education, instruction and
training (Reg 12)
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What are our responsibilities? Under appendix 3 of the
accompanying Approved Code of Practice: exposure to substances with
the potential to cause occupational asthma should be prevented, or
exposure reduced as far as is reasonably practicable
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What are our responsibilities? Workplace exposure limits (WELs)
are occupational exposure limits set under COSHH to help protect
the health of workers Where principles of good practice for control
are applied, exposure should be below the relevant WEL
Slide 18
What are our responsibilities? There are separate requirements
for asbestos and lead: the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 the
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
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What are our responsibilities? Under RIDDOR 1995,* all cases of
occupational respiratory disease that are confirmed by a doctor
must be reported to the HSE * Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
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How can we deal with inhalation problems? Check which agents at
work can cause inhalation problems Check suppliers labels and
literature Check safety data sheets produced by manufacturers
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How can we deal with inhalation problems? Consider eliminating
the use of hazardous substances Use safer substances Control
exposure by using engineering controls, eg automation, enclosure,
local exhaust ventilation Modify processes to minimise exposure Set
up good working practices Provide suitable breathing protection
equipment
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How can we deal with inhalation disorders? Pre-employment
screening to help identify people predisposed to inhalation
problems such as asthma Set up a health surveillance system to
carry out respiratory checks Regularly check effectiveness of
controls Regularly check that breathing protection equipment is
appropriate, and used and stored properly
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How can we deal with inhalation problems? Revise COSHH
assessment when new substances are introduced and you suspect they
could cause problems
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How can we deal with inhalation problems? Encourage employees
to report any respiratory problems to the person responsible for
surveillance Provide them with suitable information, eg Breathe
freely: a workers information card on occupational asthma
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg172.pdfwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg172.pdf
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How can we deal with inhalation problems? Breathing protection
equipment Only use respirators tested to European standards
Employees should have a fit test
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What next? Generate a plan for our organisation, eg: identify
people at risk from jobs and tasks carry out risk assessments and
record results carry out monitoring decide what health surveillance
is appropriate for us provide training investigate any necessary
control measures, breathing protection equipment, hygiene For more
information, see www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm and
www.ohtoolkit.co.ukwww.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htmwww.ohtoolkit.co.uk
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IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety
professionals. We have over 37,000 members worldwide, including
more than 13,000 Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners. The
Institution was founded in 1945 and is an independent,
not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards,
supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and
guidance on health and safety issues. IOSH is formally recognised
by the ILO as an international non-governmental organisation. The
IOM is a major independent centre of scientific excellence in the
fields of occupational and environmental health, hygiene and
safety. We were founded as a charity in 1969 by the UK coal
industry in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh and became
fully independent in 1990. Our mission is to benefit those at work
and in the community by providing quality research, consultancy and
training in health, hygiene and safety and by maintaining our
independent, impartial position as an international centre of
excellence.