Asthma quiz

Have a go at our fun quiz to see what you know about occupational asthma. Most of the answers can be found by surfing through HSE's asthma website.

You might like to compare your scores before and after perusing the site. It's not a test and there is no set time limit in which to complete it.

If, after reviewing your answers, you need to discuss any particular areas, employees may wish to speak to their trade union or employee representative, employers or their trade association.

1 Occupational asthma is caused by

Dusts in the general atmosphere or cold air which then occasionally trigger attacks

Workers breathing in substances at work that produce a hypersensitive state in the airways

Sensitive individuals coming into contact with contaminated carpets and curtains

2 Dusts and fumes cause asthma by

Entering the body through the skin

Entering the body through the nose and mouth

Clinging to your clothes and causing itching

3 The greatest cause of occupational asthma in Great Britain is exposure to

Chemicals called isocyanates (eg in two-pack products)

Latex rubber

Wood dust

4 Rosin-based solder flux fume is most likely to affect

Farm workers

Electronics assemblers

Bakers

5 Isocyanates are most likely to affect

Laboratory technicians

Nurses

Spray painters

6 An R42 is

A benefits claim form for occupational asthma

A Risk Phrase associated with occupational asthma

A form used to notify the asthma sufferer that they have to change their job

7 A respiratory irritant

May provoke asthma attacks in those with occupational or pre-existing asthma

Causes asthma

Is another term for asthmagen

8 What do the letters LEV stand for?

Low emission vehicle

Local electric ventilation

Local exhaust ventilation

9 Why is LEV important?

It keeps workers cool

It draws dusty air or fumes away from the worker

It cuts out noise from machinery

10 What should all workers at risk from asthma get on a regular basis?

A pay rise

Mediterranean holiday

Health surveillance

11 Why is health surveillance important?

Early removal from exposure can lead to a complete recovery

The longer you watch a problem the more likely it is to go away

Health surveys find out about substance abuse by workers

12 The UK charity with a dedicated Asthma Helpline run by trained nurses dealing with asthma problems generally is

Wheezers Anonymous

National Allergy Society

Asthma UK

How did you do?

'Asthma Duffer (or Puffer)'
If you scored 0 to 4 did you perhaps run out of puff? You may previously only have been aware of general asthma or may work in a small company with no personal experience of asthma caused by work activity. You might like to read the accounts under 'From experience' to see the human cost if the disease did affect you or your company. If you read through the main pages on this site you should be able to improve your score at a later date.

'Asthma Aware (but Tight)'
If you scored 5 to 8 you're doing OK! You appear to have a good awareness of occupational asthma, its causes and some of the important areas in reducing the scale of the problem. If you read through other pages on this site you should be able to improve your score still further at a later date.

'Asthma Genned (Up)'
If you scored 9 to 12 well done you're a star! You really have genned up on this topic. May be you found our quiz a bit too easy (Too wheezy)! Please now share your knowledge with your colleagues and tell them about this website. If you come across problems involving substances that cause occupational asthma, use the information you have gained to ensure that the situation is tackled, thus helping to reduce the number of new cases each year.

• See the answer sheet