1. Kim Boggins
OH Director
a pipe dream

2. Respiratory problems construction
Occupational Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Silocosis

3. Types of dust particles
Inhalable dust, airborne material breathed into
airways and deposits in the respiratory tract.
Inhalable dust is usually cleared by mucus.
Respirable dust is finer material that is small
enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.

4. Construction Activities
 Cutting kerbstones
 Stone Masonry
 Tunnelling
 Crushing and screening demolition material
 Cleaning a removing rubble
 Chasing out mortar before repointing

5. Chronic
Obstructive
Pulmonary
Disease

6. Acts about
 COPD more common in later life.
 It is likely that over a million individuals have
COPD in Great Britain.
 Over 25,000 deaths from COPD each year.
 Research shows 15% of COPD is likely to be
work related.

7. What happens when you have COPD
COPD, causes damage to the lungs resulting
In difficulty blowing air out, this causes shortness
Of breath.

8. Symptoms of COPD
Inside the lungs, COPD can clog the airways and
damage the tiny, balloon-like sacs (alveoli) that absorb
oxygen. These changes can cause the following
symptoms:
 Shortness of breath in everyday activities
 Wheezing
 Chest tightness
 Constant coughing
 Producing a lot of mucous (sputum)

9. Your lungs

10. Diagnosis: Spirometry breath test
Spirometry is the main test for COPD. It
measures how much air you can move in and
out of your lungs and how quickly you do it.
You take a deep breath and blow as hard as
you can into a tube.
Spirometry can find problems even before you
have symptoms of COPD. It also helps
determine the stage of COPD.

11. Normal lung function.
Example;
Male, height
Forced Lung capacity =
% predicted results 80-120%
Forced expired volume 1 second =
% predicted results 80-120%

12. Results individual with COPD
Male
Age 46
Height 179
No declared symptoms.
Forced Vital Capacity 56 % predicted values
Forced expired volume 1 second 55% predicted
values.

13. Smoking the facts, the good
news
 In 1972 just under half of adults in the UK were
smokers.
 By 1990 this had fallen to just under a third.
 At present, about a sixth of UK adults are smokers.

14. Reducing the risks at work
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/
guidance/cnseries.htm
Advise on reducing
work activities for
silica

15. Reducing the risk
Provide appropriate respiratory protective
equipment where exposure can not be prevented.
Provide appropriate health surveillance as
required by COSHH.
Encourage employees to give up smoking.