What is occupational asthma?
Asthma pathway (BTS, NICE, SIGN) [SIGN 244]
Asthma can be caused by substances you breathe in at work. This is called occupational asthma. These substances include things like dust from flour and grain, certain chemicals used in spray paints and foam, wood dust and dust from insects and animals. Examples of jobs that can cause occupational asthma include baking, spray painting, joinery and laboratory work with animals.
How is occupational asthma diagnosed?
If you develop asthma as an adult or if you had asthma as a child and it returns, your healthcare professional should consider whether substances at your workplace are causing it.
Recommendation based on the research evidence
If your healthcare professional thinks your asthma may be caused by your workplace, they will ask you the following questions.
- Is your asthma the same, better or worse on your days off work?
- Is your asthma the same, better or worse when you are on holiday?
If you answer yes to these questions, your healthcare professional will start to investigate whether you have occupational asthma. Your answers should be recorded for later review.
Recommendation based on the research evidence
If your healthcare professional suspects you have occupational asthma, they will refer you to a specialist in occupational asthma to investigate.
Recommendation based on the research evidence
Before your specialist can confirm that your asthma is caused by a substance at your work, they will ask you to measure your breathing using a peak flow meter at different times of day.
- You should take at least four readings a day for four
- Your specialist will tell you to use your peak flow meter at times when you’re at work and at times when you’re away from
- If your breathing improves when you’re away from work, it’s possible you have occupational asthma.
Recommendation based on the research evidence
You should discuss with your employer whether it’s possible to remove the substance from your workplace or if you can move somewhere else at work to be away from the substance. They should take all reasonable and practical steps to do this. This should happen as soon as you are diagnosed or within 12 months of starting to have your asthma symptoms at work.