
HSE Issues Asthma Warning to Bakery Workers
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
As many as 27,000 British bakers who deal with flour everyday could be facing the risk of developing occupational asthma, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says.
According to HSE, bakers are about 80 times more likely to be victims of occupational asthma than their fellow British worker is. Bakery workers who regularly inhale flour and other bakery dusts can easily develop a severe case of asthma unless precautionary measures are put in place.
The HSE campaign to mark the World Asthma Day on May 5 involves education of bakery workers about safer working practices to minimise the chances of developing occupational asthma. It is sending bakeries notes containing advice for workers on good practices which they can implement themselves to protect their respiratory health.
Occupational asthma is characterised by symptoms such as chronic coughing, accompanied with pain, and a shortness of breath. The symptoms tend to worsen if inhalation of dust continues. In worst cases, the bakery worker may even have to stop working altogether.
Flour is not as harmless as it is perceived to be in comparison with chemicals used in other industries, the dangers of which are quite well known. It can have disastrous consequences on the respiratory wellbeing of the workers unless it is appropriately handled, and this is proved by the 100 new cases of bakers suffering from occupational asthma coming to light every year.
Exposure to flour and bakery dust must be minimised and good house keeping should be ensured to mitigate the risks of occupational asthma, the HSE has advised.
Make sure that your company is not in the dark when it comes to new health and safety regulations. The other way to keep up-to-date is to make sure that you take advantage of the nebosh training services operated by reputable companies such as Workplace Law.
As many as 27,000 British bakers who deal with flour everyday could be facing the risk of developing occupational asthma, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says.
According to HSE, bakers are about 80 times more likely to be victims of occupational asthma than their fellow British worker is. Bakery workers who regularly inhale flour and other bakery dusts can easily develop a severe case of asthma unless precautionary measures are put in place.
The HSE campaign to mark the World Asthma Day on May 5 involves education of bakery workers about safer working practices to minimise the chances of developing occupational asthma. It is sending bakeries notes containing advice for workers on good practices which they can implement themselves to protect their respiratory health.
Occupational asthma is characterised by symptoms such as chronic coughing, accompanied with pain, and a shortness of breath. The symptoms tend to worsen if inhalation of dust continues. In worst cases, the bakery worker may even have to stop working altogether.
Flour is not as harmless as it is perceived to be in comparison with chemicals used in other industries, the dangers of which are quite well known. It can have disastrous consequences on the respiratory wellbeing of the workers unless it is appropriately handled, and this is proved by the 100 new cases of bakers suffering from occupational asthma coming to light every year.
Exposure to flour and bakery dust must be minimised and good house keeping should be ensured to mitigate the risks of occupational asthma, the HSE has advised.
Make sure that your company is not in the dark when it comes to new health and safety regulations. The other way to keep up-to-date is to make sure that you take advantage of the nebosh training services operated by reputable companies such as Workplace Law.
