New online guidance has been produced in an attempt to help inform employers about one of the least recognised health issues - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a term used to describe a number of breathing problems where there is damage to the breathing tubes and air sacs within the lung. It is a condition that comprises and includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking is the main cause, however evidence suggests that there would be around 4,000 fewer deaths each year from COPD if occupational risks, like dusts, smoke and fumes, were removed.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there are around 30,000 deaths each year from COPD and almost 22 million working days are lost because of it. A specific new section on this is available on the HSE website, and includes tips for employees and workers as well as links to other sources of information covering the construction industry, flour dust, welding, woodwork and foundry work. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) SI 2002/2677, require employers to control their workers exposure to hazardous substances through risk assessments and substituting harmful products with less harmful ones.
If a substance definitely causes COPD in your workplace, then you need to consider whether health surveillance is required for compliance with COSHH. For substances where the evidence of a link is less certain, the HSE still recommend that you consider health monitoring.
For further information, see the:
