Time to clear the air on World Asthma Day

E018:07 1 May 2007

Vehicle paint sprayers are 96 times more likely than the overall workforce to develop occupational asthma, through breathing in harmful chemicals in paint mist. To raise awareness of the problem the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today issued a health alert to the industry in support of World Asthma Day.

HSE's advice to paint sprayers is 'don't expose yourself' to the risk. Vehicle paint sprayers should know how long it takes for paint mist to clear in their workshop - it can vary from 25 minutes for a spray room to 10 minutes for a spray booth. They need to display the 'clearance time' so that all workers are aware of it, and then ensure that air-face masks are worn for the duration of the 'clearance time'.

Steve Coldrick, Head of Disease Reduction Programme at HSE said: "We know that levels of occupational asthma are particularly high in this industry but they don't have to be. The problem is that air-fed masks are removed too soon, so we want vehicle paint sprayers to wear their protective masks until the paint mist has cleared."

He continued: "Our advice about clearance times is simple. Know it. Show it - and then Do it."

Vehicle paint sprayers are at most risk because almost all lacquers and base coats, as well as some water-based paints contain harmful chemicals which are breathed in through paint mist. Wearing air-fed masks is common practise but will only protect people if they are kept on until the invisible paint mist has completely cleared.

Asthma is a serious health problem and symptoms such as severe wheezing, coughing and a tight chest, often prevent sufferers from doing everyday tasks like walking up stairs. Occupational asthma occurs when a person reacts to a substance they are exposed to at work and it can be prevented by taking simple steps to eliminate exposure to harmful substances.

More information on occupational asthma is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/index.htm

Notes to editors

• World Asthma Day is an annual event that aims to improve asthma awareness and care throughout the world. This year World Asthma Day will be on Tuesday 1 May 2007.
• For further information on how to carry out a clearance time check visit www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/index.htm
• A clearance time check can be carried out quite easily by using a small smoke machine to fill the room with smoke, then seeing how long it takes to clear. These machines can be bought for less than £50 from high street electrical retailers or suppliers of DJ equipment.
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations requires employers to control exposures to hazardous substances to protect employees' health. Employers must assess the risk of exposure (exposure means taking in chemicals by breathing in, by skin contact or by swallowing). Employers should also carry out regular health surveillance which means regularly looking for early signs of work related ill health and putting procedures in place to achieve this.
• HSE statistics on occupational asthma are based on estimated number of cases reported by chest and occupational physicians to SWORD/OPRA and estimated rates per 100,000 workers per year, by occupation 2003-2005. The statistics are available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asthma/index.htm
  

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