Personal injury - Asthma

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Personal injury - Asthma

Posted by McGarr under Tort , Accidents at Work , Health &

Safety

http://www.mcgarrsolicitors.ie/2007/04/25/accidents-at-work-asthma/

Asthma is not well understood, and occupational asthma is frequently

defined in terms of exclusion from other definitions. It consists of

a constriction of the airways resulting in shortness

of breath, sometimes accompanied by hay fever-like reactions or a

cough or both. These symptoms can be mild or severe in degree. An

attack of asthma can be very distressing, on occasions requiring

hospitalization and can last up to 2 hours. They vary in frequency,

but often occur at night. In the case of some people an attack comes

on within minutes of exposure, while in others the attacks occur

later. There is usually no attack on the occasion of first exposure

to the asthma-causing agent. Typically in occupational asthma there

is a relief over a holiday or week end period.

The following is a selection of substances causing occupational

asthma:

Substance Occupation

2,4-dinitro-O-cresol : Farming and Horticulture

Acrolein : Chemical workers omethane : Chemical workers

Dinitro-phenols : Printing and Dying

Isocyanates : Paint & Chemical Workers

Toluene di-isocyanate : Plastic & Rubber Workers

Salts of Platinum : Platinum refining

Epoxy resins : Chemicals & Construction

Rosin in soldering flux : Soldering

Small animals : Vets & Lab Workers

Grain and flour and

mould and mites of same : s & Bakers

Antibiotics : Farmers & Health Workers

Wood dust : Carpenters

Oysters : Oyster Workers

Tea dust : Tea Workers

Tobacco : Tobacco Workers

Colophony : Electronics Workers

Gum acacia : Printers

Papain : Meat processors

Subtilisins : Detergents Workers

Not every worker will contract asthma on exposure but the estimates

of proportions of workers who do varies from 5% to 50% depending on

the relative substance. Usually, removal from exposure will relieve

symptoms but not in all individuals. In addition these may be

sensitized to other substances which will also bring on attacks. In

the United Kingdom it has been estimated that 40% of workers in the

grain business have occupational asthma and in bakers the level is

5 -10%.

The incidence of asthma in workers in the electronics industry is

increasing due to metal soldering