A history of asthma should not mean that someone is excluded from work. However, if asthma is likely to be aggravated by exposure to substances at work, you may need specialist advice.
Employees who are likely to be exposed to respiratory sensitisers (eg isocyanates) should be provided with suitable health surveillance. The exact details will depend of the nature and likelihood of exposure. An occupational health practitioner should be able to ensure that health surveillance fits your particular circumstances.
Generally, a pre-placement assessment should be used to establish a baseline for respiratory health. Health surveillance should then include an assessment at the following intervals:
It is good practice to nominate a ‘responsible person' who workers can report symptoms to. This person will need some training, as will the workers.
Sample health surveillance questionnaires:
Consider providing heath surveillance for construction workers who do the following tasks, if they are exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust:
If the risk of exposure is low, you may decide, with the help of an occupational health professional, that health surveillance (involving an X-ray and symptom enquiry) is unnecessary.
However, where there is a reasonable likelihood of silicosis developing, health surveillance will usually be necessary. You need to consider, in discussion with your occupational health professional, the risk of silicosis developing due to RCS and decide what health surveillance is appropriate.
The health professional may, in any case, recommend an X-ray as part of the clinical investigation of someone who reports new or worsening respiratory symptoms.
If you detect an employee's symptoms early enough and reduce their exposure to dust, you will prevent further damage.
Your health monitoring programme could include:
