Clearing the air on respiratory hazards

Jobs can take an unexpected toll on the physical health of many workers.

An occupational disease can be disruptive, disabling, and even fatal. For these reasons, workplaces must take preventive action on respiratory hazards that can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, silicosis, asbestosis, and other serious occupational diseases.

Recognizing and preventing these work-related diseases is more challenging than trying to prevent injuries. Many occupational diseases, including respiratory conditions, can be connected to workplace exposures that occurred many years earlier. It's even possible for workers not to experience immediate health effects, such as irritation and coughing, and yet develop lung cancer decades later.

As well, occupational diseases often result from repeated exposures to invisible gases or particles, rather than from a single event.

Workplaces can take action to identify and address breathing hazards from agents that can lead to lung cancer and other illnesses. Particulates, in a workplace context, most often refers to particles, dust, mist, and fumes that are in the surrounding air that workers inhale. Breathing is the most common way by which they enter the lungs.

How far the particle gets into the air passages of the respiratory system, and what it does when it is deposited, depends on the size, shape, and density of the material, as well as on its chemical and toxic properties.

The Canadian Picture

According to national data from the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), occupational diseases caused 64 per cent (612) of deaths compared to 36 per cent (339) of deaths from traumatic fatalities in 2017.

Keep in mind that these numbers do not include deaths in workplaces not covered by a compensation board (from diseases not accepted as work-related), illnesses that are not acknowledged as being associated with a workplace exposure, and unreported illnesses. Plus, there are thousands more non-fatal illnesses and health problems, including occupational deafness, dermatitis, and asthma caused by bad air quality.

Cancer Care Ontario and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre estimate that approximately 1,300 cancer cases per year in Ontario are related to exposure to asbestos, diesel engine exhaust, crystalline silica, and welding fumes.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, long latency illnesses, emerging years after exposure to a disease-causing agent, accounted for the largest portion of compensation benefit costs between 2008 and 2017. To address these workplace hazards, the Ministry is conducting an inspection blitz focused on the dusts, vapours, and fumes that can lead to the most common fatal occupational diseases of mesothelioma, lung and bronchial cancers, and asbestosis.

The focus of this blitz is on the industrial, construction, health-care, and mining sectors.

Respiratory hazards at industrial and construction locations include lead dust and fumes; silica dust from cutting concrete and sandblasting; solvent vapours from adhesives, paints, and strippers; isocyanate vapours from sprayed insulation and coatings; and carbon monoxide from gas-powered equipment.

Many of these exposures have been associated with lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, including pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

What Employers Can Do

All employers, regardless of work site or location, can take the same eight steps to improve worker safety.

1. Complete a hazard assessment to identify the respiratory agents that are present in the workplace.
2. Look for opportunities to move hazards up the hierarchy of controls to minimize exposure. Ask if the hazard can be prevented from entering the air in the first place.
3. Implement proper controls and work practices to prevent respiratory hazards and ensure that worker exposure to agents is kept below legal limits.
4. Make sure that work areas have proper ventilation.
5. Provide information, instruction, and supervision to workers.
6. Train workers on respiratory hazards specific to their workplace. Employers, supervisors, and trainers also should encourage workers to communicate any concerns they may have about occupational disease.
7. Provide training on the correct use and fit-testing of any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators.
8. Properly maintain the PPE.

Occupational Exposure Limits

Occupational exposure limits are the recommended maximum amount and length of time most workers can be exposed to a toxic substance without suffering any known harmful consequences.

However, a legal limit or guideline (such as an occupational exposure limit) should never be viewed as a line between safe and unsafe. It is important to strive for "as low as reasonably achievable" exposure where possible.

Within Canada the provinces, territories, and federal government list the occupational exposure limits that are enforceable under their individual health and safety legislation. It’s a good idea to view the legislative references for exposure limits to chemical and biological agents for each jurisdiction. Please note that while you can see the list of legislation for free, you will need a subscription to view the actual documentation.

Workers have a right to be safe on the job. Employers must take every reasonable precaution in the circumstances for workers' protection. By identifying options for eliminating or reducing respiratory hazards, workplaces can take action now to prevent future harm to workers.

This article was supplied by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), 135 Hunter St. East, Hamilton, Ont. L8N 1M5, 800-668-4284, www.ccohs.ca.