Agriculture workers - common causes of asthma

Grain dust rises from harvesting, moving and processing cereal crops. Grain dust causes occupational asthma.

Along with farm workers, others at risk include those moving cereals, e.g. dockworkers, millers and workers in maltings; also maintenance engineers.

See COSHH Essentials for detailed advice on control.

Top tips

• Use a filtered clean air supply for tractor and harvester cabs, and for cereal transfer control rooms.
• Provide enclosures with dust extraction at cereal transfer points. You often need a respirator, too.
• Never sweep up or use compressed air. Clean up using an industrial vacuum cleaner.
• You need health surveillance.

Reduce disease - reduce exposure to grain dust

Dusty jobs include harvesting, moving grain between transport and stores, animal feed compounding and seed cleaning.

Avoid working in dust clouds. Work upwind of the dust sources outdoors. Keep vehicle doors and windows closed to keep out dust. Check and maintain dust controls regularly.

• More information for employers

You can find more guidance and information on the Asthma publications pages.