how can work-related asthma? work …files.hria.org › files › oh4425.pdf1. does my asthma get...

IS MY ASTHMAWORK-RELATED?

WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?

ASK YOURSELF THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS:

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE WORK-RELATED ASTHMA PROJECT AT:

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

1. Doesmyasthmagetbetterondaysawayfromworkoronvacations?

2. Arethereanymaterials,activities,orspecificlocationsatworkthatmakemyasthmaworse?

3. Doesmyasthmagetworseoverthecourseoftheworkweek?

OCCUPATIONALHEALTHSURVEILLANCEPROGRAM

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

250WashingtonStreet,6thFloorBoston,MA02108(617)624-5681www.mass.gov/dph/workrelatedasthmaoccupational.asthma@state.ma.us

OTHERRESOURCESINCLUDE:

The American Lung Association

1-800-LUNGUSA(586-4872),Option #2Lungne.org

The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics

http://www.aoec.org/

Ifyoufeelthatyourworkplaceisunsafe

andneedsahealthandsafety

evaluation,youcancontactOSHAat(617)565-9860ortheMassachusetts Department of Labor Standards at (617) 969-7177.

If yourasthmaiscausedorworsenedbywork,youhavetherighttofileforworkers’compensation.Benefitsinclude:

• Paymentofallmedicalbillsrelatedtoyourasthma

• Coverageofprescriptiondrugsforyourasthma

• Upto60%ofthepaythatyoulostifyouwereoutsickfor5ormoredays

• Compensationifyoubecomedisabled

IN ORDER TO OBTAIN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION:

• Tellyouremployeraboutyourhealthconditionrightaway.Askhim/hertofileaFirstReport ofInjury.

• Ifyouaredeniedcompensationyouhavetherighttoappeal.

• Keeparecordofyourasthmaattacks.Tellyourdoctorwhenyourasthmagetsbetterorworse.

• Tellyourdoctoraboutyourwork.

• Learnmoreaboutthesubstancesusedatyourworkplace.

• CreateanAsthmaActionPlanwithyourdoctor.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you may have Work-Related Asthma.

1-800-499-LUNG|lungne.org

For more information, contact the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents at 1-800-323-3249.

WHAT CAUSES WORK-RELATED ASTHMA?

WHO GETS WORK-RELATED ASTHMA?

HOW CAN WORK-RELATED ASTHMA

BE PREVENTED?

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA?

WHAT IS WORK-RELATED ASTHMA?

Youremployershouldprotectyoubytakingthefollowingstepstomakeyourworkplacehealthier.

• Removesubstancesthatcauseasthma,andreplacethemwithsafermaterials.Eliminatehazardsliketobaccosmokeormold.

• Ventilateusingventilationsystemstoremovehazardoussubstances.Maintainthesesystemstoensuregoodairquality.

• Providerespiratorsormaskstoreduceexposurestohazardoussubstances.Respiratorsrequiremedicalapproval,hazardassessments&training.

• Provideskinprotection,suchasgloves,aprons&faceshieldstoprotectagainstsubstancesthatcanbeabsorbedthroughtheskin&cancauseasthma.

• Trainemployeesabouthazardsandprevention.

Therearemanysubstancesintheworkplacethatcancauseasthmaormakeasthmaworse.

• Isocyanates(inproductslikepolyurethanefoam&autopaints)

• Certaincleaners&disinfectants• Latexrubber• Grain&flourdust• Wooddusts• Animaldander• Cockroaches• Somemolds• Somemetalssuchasnickel&chromium• Cigarettesmoke

• Wheezing• Coughing• ChestTightness• ShortnessofBreath• DifficultyBreathing

Workersinmanyjobscanbeexposedtosubstancesthatcancauseorworsenasthma.Someexamplesare:

• Nurses&otherhealthcareworkers• Teachers/Schoolstaff• Beautysalonworkers• Janitors&housekeepingstaff• Animalhandlers• Constructionworkers• Laboratorytechnicians• Paper,textile,plasticorother

manufacturingworkers• Bakers• Officeworkers

Work-relatedasthmaisasthmacausedormadeworsebywork.Asthmasymptomsmaystartrightafteryoubreatheinaparticularsubstanceorsymptomsmay bedelayed,beginningafterworkorevenatnight.

Symptomsusuallygetworse atworkbutgetbetterduringvacationsorlongweekends.If yourasthmabecomesmoresevere,symptomsmaynotgetbetterevenaftertimeawayfromwork.

Work-relatedasthmamaybereversible,butpermanentdamage,orevendeathcanoccurifexposurecontinues.

Federalsafetylawsrequireyouremployertoprovideasafe&healthyworkplace.

1-800-499-LUNG|lungne.org

Someexamplesare: