HSE estimates that at least 1,500 people develop occupational asthma each year in Britain, making it one of the major causes of occupational respiratory ill-health. Respiratory sensitisers are found in a wide range of industries including agriculture, food processing, plastics and chemical processing and spray painting.

For industries with a risk of Occupational Asthma the six main causes are: Isocyanates, Flour/grain/ hay, colophony fume (soldering flux) laboratory animals, wood dusts, curing of epoxy resins.

Employers have a duty under the Control of Substances Hazardous to health Regulations to provide suitable health surveillance for employees who are likely to be significantly exposed to respiratory sensitisers.

Example: HSE recommend workers exposed to airborne isocynate to have a pre-employment medical examination and to be examined after a sickness absence with a respiratory disease lasting two weeks or more.

Routine spirometry should be carried out at six monthly intervals.

We offer pre-employment medicals, a questionnaire at six and twelve weeks into employment and an annual questionnaire with regular Lung Function Testing using a computerised Spirometer, which can identify the onset of occupational Asthma and some other respiratory diseases.