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Occupational Asthma – What you need to know

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BACKGROUND:

Approximately 2.8 million Australians live with asthma, which causes around 400 deaths every year. Up to 25% of adult-onset asthma cases are caused by occupational exposures, with as many as 3000 new cases of occupational asthma each year in Australia.

Although most asthma cases are onset during childhood and adolescent years, asthma can occur for the first time at any age. Adult-onset asthma is linked with a faster decline in lung function and is highly unlikely to arise from an allergy to pollen or dust mites.

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease where the airways narrow, swell and produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe.

Occupational asthma (OA) is a type of asthma caused by exposure to harmful agents at work. It differs from work-aggravated asthma as it affects individuals who have not had asthma before.

Some people can have a greater risk of developing occupational asthma if they have pre-existing conditions, such hay fever and/or eczema. Importantly, occupational asthma can arise as a comorbidity to vocal cord dysfunction, which occurs when the vocal cords malfunction, which restricts airflow and results in asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing and chronic coughing.

There are three forms of asthma:

  1. Allergic occupational asthma (Sensitiser-induced occupational asthma)

People with allergic OA are sensitised to at least one allergen in their workplace, which on subsequent exposure, results in an allergic response.

  • Non-allergic occupational asthma (irritant-induced occupational asthma)

Non-allergic OA occurs shortly after a high-level exposure at work due to a respiratory irritant such as gas, smoke, fumes or vapour.

  • Silent Asthma

Silent asthma is a form of asthma characterised by the lack of coughing and wheezing. Symptoms include chest tightness, shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue and chronic mouth-breathing.

CAN MY WORK CAUSE OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA?

Occupational asthma can develop anywhere between a few weeks to 30 years following exposure, depending on the frequency of exposure and type of risk agent.

If your job requires you to work with any of the following substances, you are at a higher risk of developing occupational asthma:

  • Flour dust
  • Latex
  • Cotton
  • Hay
  • Moulds and yeasts
  • Grain and poultry dust from agriculture 
  • Isocyanates (found in paints, varnishes, foams, glues, and flooring)
  • Formaldehyde (found in building materials and insulation, fertilisers and pesticides, glues, paints, dishwashing liquids, fabric softeners and medicinal preservatives). This is a known cancer-causing agent.  
  • Mist and fumes from metalworking fluids and welding 
  • Wood dust
  • Fur, feathers, dander, dried urine, and saliva dusts from animals.  

The most common high-risk occupations are listed below:

  • Spray painters
  • Bakers and pastry makers
  • Healthcare workers
  • Chemical workers
  • Textile industry workers
  • Toy and medical equipment workers
  • Animal handlers and groomers
  • Welders and metal workers
  • Food processing workers
  • Carpenters and timber workers
  • Nail technicians 
  • Embalmers
  • Farmers and agricultural workers 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA

OA symptoms vary according to the type of substance an individual is exposed to and the duration and frequency of exposure.

Some common symptoms may include:

  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness
  • Runny nose
  • Stuffy nose
  • Itchy or irritable eyes

Experiencing these symptoms may not mean that you have developed occupational asthma, but it is important to discuss them with your general practitioner.

Note that you can still have occupational asthma in the absence of coughing and wheezing, which is called silent asthma (see above).

WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF AT WORK?

The best way to prevent occupational asthma is to avoid or minimise exposure to environmental risk agents. By law, your employer is required to take preventative measures by monitoring your workplace for hazardous substances and using less harmful agents to protect you from foreseeable illness. This is particularly important when you are frequently working with known cancer-causing agents like formaldehyde.

An employer should assess the risk of developing occupational asthma in their workplace and take the following protective measures:

  • Use less harmful substances in their practices (using alternative, non-toxic paints instead of resin-containing products)
  • Providing protective equipment for workers to prevent exposure through the skin
  • Identify hazardous substances on product labels
  • Testing of workers for sensitisation to asthma-causing agents is recommended for high-risk industries (see above)
  • Workplace surveillance via questionnaires, followed by investigation of suggestive symptoms

To protect yourself from occupational asthma, you should do a combination of the following:

  • Where possible, avoid or control exposure to environmental risk agents
  • Reduce tobacco smoke exposure
  • Get flu vaccinations
  • Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR WORKCOVER COMPENSATION?

A worker diagnosed with the condition may be entitled to WorkCover compensation based on the nature of their employment (whether current or former employment).

It must be shown that the nature of your employment significantly increased the risk of contracting occupational asthma. There is no requirement to prove that the employment was the direct cause.

A worker diagnosed with an occupational asthma may be entitled to claim WorkCover compensation for:

You may also be entitled to other benefits regardless of whether you qualify for WorkCover compensation, including total and permanent disablement benefits from your superannuation policy.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA?

If you think you may have occupational asthma, please see your general practitioner or a specialist to determine if it may be due to the nature of their employment.

It is important that you give an occupational history.

Given that the period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can be lengthy, early preventative measures and detection is highly recommended.

If you believe you have signs of Occupational Asthma or any other illness that stems from your working conditions, you can contact us for a No Fee, Obligation appointment.