What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed.

These include:

Emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs.

Chronic bronchitis – long term inflammation of the airways.

How is it caused?

Smoking is known to be the main cause of COPD, however long term exposure to harmful dust and fumes is also a known cause. You are considered to be more at risk if you work within certain industries. A few are listed below:

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Flour and grain milling
• Foundry workers
• Petroleum workers welders
• Pottery and ceramic workers

So what are harmful dusts and fumes?

Cadmium dust and fumes – associated with silver soldering and the manufacturing of batteries.

Grain and flour dust – found in grain/flour mills and the manufacture of animal feeds.

Mineral dust – Mining industries.

Organic dusts – Agriculture and timber workers.

Silica dust – Construction, ceramics, cement/brick manufacture.

Welding fumes – engineering, foundries.

Statistics

An estimated 1.2 million people are living with diagnosed COPD.

An estimated 15% of cases are attributable to exposure at work.

Controlling exposure in the workplace checklist

• COSHH risk assessments.
• Air monitoring undertaken by a competent person.
• Awareness training for staff.
• Health surveillance for staff.
• Local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
• Personal protective equipment.
• Respiratory protective equipment.

 For further information click on the below links to the HSE website:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/copd/index.htm

https://www.hse.gov.uk/copd/causes.htm