What is the difference between occupational asthma and asthma made worse by work?
Occupational asthma is asthma that has been caused by exposure to a substance at work, e.g. flour dust. Many people have asthma for other reasons and may have had it all their life. For people who already have asthma, exposure to substances at work can make their asthma worse than before. For these people, controlling exposure at work will ease their symptoms but won’t prevent asthma attacks. What does the law say? The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that employers have duties under the above act to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone who may be affected by their work. This includes taking steps to minimize the risk of occupational asthma. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations require 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). COSHH requires you to consi
