High Risk Jobs
Being an asthmatic will also affect your own choice of employment. For example, you are unlikely to want to work in a flour mill if dust is one of your triggers.Asthma usually manifests itself within a few months of starting the job, but may take longer. Bakers, spray painters, welders, solders, metal treaters, plastics workers, chemical processors, factory workers and laboratory workers are considered the most hazardous jobs in terms of asthma.
Some types of employment such as the police force, armed services, flying and commercial scuba diving will not usually hire asthmatics.
Is my job causing my Asthma?
The following circumstances usually indicate whether your asthma is job-related or not:- Asthma starts within weeks or months of starting a new job
- Asthma regularly and predictably comes on while you are at work or within a few hours after you have finished work
- You work with common triggers
- You work with others, who also develop similar problems
- Your asthma seems to improve when you are away from work, on weekends or holidays. It returns almost immediately when you resume the same job
Keep an asthma diary, noting symptoms and severity. Do this over a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms are generally worse during the work week, and improve on weekends, and almost clear completely the longer you are away from work. Once a pattern between your work and asthma severity has been established, find out what substances may actually trigger your asthma. Try the list of respiratory sensitisers or contact the appropriate government agency (Ministry of Health, Department of Labour, Community services etc).
An asthma specialist may perform an inhalation challenge test which confirms whether you developed asthma while you were working at that particular occupation or as a result of working at that job.
Managing Occupational Asthma
If you have been exposed to a respiratory sensitiser over a long period of time, asthma symptoms are likely to become increasingly severe. Even if you change jobs and are no longer exposed to the sensitiser, it is likely asthma will continue. If you have occupational asthma, it might be possible to transfer you to a job that does not contain the substance to which you are sensitive.It may be possible to claim compensation if your asthma has been caused by exposure to certain substances in your workplace. However, this varies from country to country.
Your working conditions can have a marked bearing on your asthma. It may be possible to replace substances, which are known to cause asthma with safer ones. The next best step is to protect the employee by reducing exposure to hazards. For example, fitting extractor fans may be helpful, as good ventilation is important in dispersing triggers. A non-smoking workplace may help to reduce smoke, which is a known irritant for asthmatics.
If you are having problems with your working environment and employers seem uncooperative to help, then notify the Health and Safety Officer of your union or a similar government department.
Good working conditions and well managed asthma will mean fewer days off work. This will mean a happier employer, and workmates. Watch for warning signs that your asthma is slowly getting worse and take the necessary steps to prevent it.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.buteyko.co.nz)
