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4 March 2005 - HSENI Conference on
Occupational Asthma
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A conference, by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern
Ireland (HSENI) took place yesterday, Wednesday 3 March 2005, in Belfast on
Occupational Asthma..
Employers, employees and their representatives heard what
asthmagens are and how they can be controlled to avoid and prevent asthma within
the workplace, which is most commonly caused by isocyanates.
Isocyanates are found in products such as 2-pack paint, flour,
grain, wood dust, latex, gluteraldehyde solder and colophny and some types of
glues and resins.
Statistics show there were 35 deaths in Northern Ireland from
asthma in 2002, with an estimation of 4,000 people each year being affected or
made worse by the work-environment.
Chair of HSENI commented:
"Work related asthma can lead to avoidable deaths and
morbidity. What we should never lose sight of is that behind these statistics
are individuals and families who are suffering. It's been reported that
employees who are forced to leave their employment because of occupational
asthma, and who are lucky enough to find new work face a drop in their income of
approximately 20%. We all agree that workers have a legitimate expectation that
they will not be harmed by their job and will leave their factory workbench ,
hospital ward or bakery at least as healthy as when they arrived."
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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