What's new at HSE » Asthma

Gateshead manufacturer fined £3000 - hazardous fumes exposure

HSE — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:52:01 +0000

HSE has highlighted the importance of managing health risks effectively after a Gateshead company admitted exposing its workers to hazardous soldering fumes.

View press release

Projection of mesothelioma mortality in Great Britain

HSE — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:00:14 +0000

There has been an increase in mesothelioma mortality in Great Britain, with 1705 deaths recorded in 2006. In 2005, a statistical model was developed based on a simple birth-cohort model, which assumes that the risk of mesothelioma depends on age and years of exposure and that an individual’s asbestos exposure depends on the year of exposure. In this report, the model has been refined and refitted using the MATLAB’s fminsearch function and the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique.

Read RR728 - Projection of mesothelioma mortality in Great Britain research report

Asthma - Bakers time to clear the air!

HSE — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:00:22 +0000

Breathing in certain dusts, gases, fumes and vapours within the workplace can cause asthma. Flour dust and enzymes containing additives such as amylase are the second most common cause of occupational asthma.

Find out more on the asthma website

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

HSE — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:35:09 +0000

Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people’s health at risk, causing diseases including asthma, dermatitis or cancer. COSHH regulations require employers to control substances that can harm workers health.

The COSHH website has been re-launched with lots of additional information.

View the re-launched website

Asthma risk in British bakeries

HSE — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:00:59 +0000

Thousands of British bakers could be at risk of developing a debilitating respiratory condition unless they take sensible precautions, the HSE has warned.

View press release

Bakers – time to clear the air!

HSE — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:45:20 +0000

This pocket card gives advice and guidance on how flour dust can cause asthma and what the symptoms are, as well as advice on how to protect yourself.

Bakers – time to clear the air! [PDF 488KB]

World Asthma Day

HSE — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:55:57 +0000

World Asthma Day takes place on May 5th it is an annual event organized to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. HSE is undertaking various activities throughout May, aimed at reducing occupational asthma and other work-related respiratory diseases.

Find out more about World Asthma Day

Statement of evidence: Respiratory hazards of poultry dust

HSE — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:55:10 +0000

Poultry dust can harm the respiratory system (nose, throat, airways and lungs) and workers may experience a range of symptoms including sore throat, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchitis and even occupational asthma. Workers may also experience flu-like symptoms. A statement of evidence has been prepared which describes the composition of poultry dust and its health effects more fully.

WEB40 - Statement of evidence: Respiratory hazards of poultry dust [PDF 105KB]

Controlling exposure to poultry dust

HSE — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:50:24 +0000

People working in poultry houses inhale many different airborne particles which collectively are referred to as poultry dust. This web-only publication gives guidance on controlling exposure to poultry dust.

WEB40 - Controlling exposure to poultry dust [PDF 114KB]

Cleaning industry newsletter

HSE — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:45:05 +0000

The Spring 2009 edition is now available of the Cleaning Industry Liaison Forum newsletter. Issue 4 covers, the Shattered lives 2009 campaign, HSE strategy for UK health and safety system, Asthma at work…

View Cleaning industry newsletter Issue 4 [PDF 218KB]

Using Filtering facepieces A2 poster

HSE — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:04:32 +0000

An A2 size durable colour poster which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and is 100% biodegradable. The poster lists a number of recommended pre-use checks and 7 diagrams on how to put a filtering facemask on and how to check that it fits and is available from HSE Books and costs £6.38 + VAT.

View the using filtering facepieces A2 poster

Is poultry dust making you ill?

HSE — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:00:22 +0000

Pocket card for workers in the poultry farming industry, providing simple breathing protection advice for employees.

Is poultry dust making you ill? [PDF 283KB]

Time to Clear the Air – Free LEV roadshow events

HSE — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:06:17 +0000

Free half day events - March 3: Birmingham; March 5: Desford, Leicestershire; March 10 Birmingham - offering the latest news and guidance from HSE and industry experts, vital issues for users and suppliers of local exhaust ventilation (LEV).

Find out more and book your place on a LEV roadshow event.

Controlling isocyanate exposure in spray booths and spray rooms

HSE — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:51 +0000

This guidance is aimed at owners and managers of bodyshops and will be of use to employees (particularly paint sprayers) as well as suppliers. It supplements other HSE guidance relating to protecting people’s health from isocyanate exposure in spray booths and rooms, and the statutory 14-monthly thorough examination and test carried out on spray booths and rooms.

View publication WEB36 Controlling ioscyanate exposure

World COPD Day 2008

HSE — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:45:01 +0000

19 November 2008 - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive, irreversible lung disease which kills about 30,000 people a year in the UK alone. HSE is working in partnership with a range of stakeholders to improve the design, installation and maintenance of local exhaust ventilation systems that help remove airborne contaminants from the workplace before people breathe them in.

Find out more about World COPD day 2008

Controlling isocyanate exposure in MVR - biological monitoring

HSE — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:38:03 +0000

Exposure to isocyanates contained in vehicle spray paints has been the biggest cause of occupational asthma in the UK for more than a decade. A number of substitute materials have been suggested but any substance that possesses similar reactive properties is likely to have adverse effects on humans.

Read SIM 03/2008/11: Controlling isocyanates exposure in MVR in full

Control of flour dust in in-store bakeries

HSE — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:15:11 +0000

Local Authority Circular: Benchmark control of dust from flour and flour improvers in in-store supermarket bakeries - what Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) should expect to see in in-store bakeries.

View circular LAC 71/7

Sweeping advice: don’t use a broom

HSE — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:05:23 +0000

Sandra Caldwell, HSE’s Deputy Chief Executive , responds to Daily Telegraph article: “Sweeping advice: don’t use a broom”

View response

LEV calculator

HSE — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:42:53 +0000

A selection of LEV (local exhaust ventilation) calculators to help designer/supplies of LEV to work out conversions, averages, volume flow, air change rate, air density and air velocity.

View LEV calculator

HSG 258: Controlling airborne contaminants at work

HSE — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:10:27 +0000

This book provides guidance on the supply of new Local Exhaust Equipment (LEV). It describes the principles and good practice of deciding on, designing, commissioning and testing cost-effective LEV. The guidance will be helpful for employers and managers in medium sized businesses and trade union and employee safety representatives.

Further details and pricing information