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 Spirometric testing
18/9/2007
According to the HSE, ‘COPD is a major cause of disability and death. It is the 4th leading cause of death throughout the world’. COPD is defined as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Although smoking accounts for a fair percentage of this long term illness the HSE recognises that ‘15% of COPD may be caused or made worse by work’. These statistics highlight the importance of having proper control measures in the form of health surveillance, in workplaces particularly at risk from COPD as well as occupational asthma.
Health surveillance is the practise of monitoring individuals for the purpose of identifying changes in health status that may be due to occupational exposure to a hazard. A system of heath surveillance is required to be set up if employees are exposed to respiratory sensitisers (substances that may cause occupational asthma) unless employers are confident their COSHH assessment shows that there is unlikely to be a risk to health.
Spirometric testing could be a suitable way of assessing impact on lung function as a part of a wider health surveillance programme, including assessment of the results by a suitably qualified occupational health person. It should be considered if the following common respiratory sensitisers are found in your workplace:
• Isocyanates (paint spraying, polyurethane foam, hardeners, etc)
• Flour/grain/hay
• Glutaraldehyde (disinfectant and biocide)
• Wood Dust
• Soldering flux
• Latex (powder in gloves)
• Laboratory animals
• Some hard metals (some cobalt, nickel compounds)
• Some glues/resins/reactive dyes, enzymes
• A full list is available on HSE website under asthma.
If there is a risk then employers have a duty of care in law in adopting an early detection mechanism of regular screening through spirometry testing and investigation. Spirometric testing is particularly effective when a series of tests are done over a period of time as part of each employee’s health surveillance file. A decline in performance of lung function can usually be detected before the employee starts to actually feel ill. Therefore, monitoring of this type may serve as an early warning system of any ill health effects that may be caused by deficiencies in existing workplace control measures. Early rectification of the problem may help to reduce the costs to your company of the high expense of employee absenteeism, potential recruitment and retraining and time spent to remedy any problems. These screening records can also be used as evidence to show company commitment to protect the employee and this in turn can reduce liabilities in respect of industrial claims for compensation.
Early detection of lung related problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and occupational asthma could lead to rapid medical treatment before chronic effects and long term absenteeism develops. Spirometry can detect two classes of lung related problems (obstructive and restrictive). An obstructive problem is a result of a narrowing of the airways and could be due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Asthma, both of which can be brought on by occupational exposure to certain substances. Restrictive problems are a result of reduced lung capacity caused by damage of the actual lung tissue itself. This could be due to Fibrosis (scarring of the lung), which for example could be caused by exposure to metal dust or hay. Best practice in Occupational Health can reduce the risk of lung disease at the workplace and enhance retention of staff and also lower the risk of being open to liability. Spirometric testing is a form of health surveillance that aims to assess an individual’s lung function and provides objective and technically acceptable results that are carried out by Envirocare to the British Thoracic Society Guidelines.
Case Study
Envirocare recently undertook a comprehensive program of spirometric health surveillance for a large furniture manufacturing company based in Yorkshire. The employees were exposed to wood dust, which were in the form of airborne particles created during the manufacture and processing of the product. The COSHH assessment and dust survey carried out highlighted the risk of exposure to wood dust. The lung function test was carried out on site and to avoid impact on production, our consultant tested around the production schedule. We provided each employee with confidential detailed and confidential results regarding their lung function. A report was made categorising employee lung function and based on the area they worked in, using an anonymous format to ensure confidentiality. This could then be used by management to assist in determining whether existing control measures are adequate in various factory areas.
What are the benefits to you of having a commitment in your employees Health Surveillance?
Improved staff motivation and performance
Better staff attendance and retention
Increased productivity
Reduction in sickness absence levels
Reduced risk and cost of litigation
Increased profitability.
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