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Indoor air quality in the workplace has always been important to assure the health and safety of employees, but never more so than in recent times.
A greater awareness of hazards that impact workplace air quality, combined with improvements introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlight the dangers of air pollution.
© Kim Britten / Shutterstock
Today’s businesses must practise air quality compliance to avoid breaking the law, including the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, which state every employer has a duty of care to employees and visitors.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 were introduced to protect employees using any hazardous chemicals and other substances in the workplace.
Work-related lung problems are the main issue caused by some working environments. Lung diseases can have a life-changing effect on employees if they have breathed in certain substances, long after the exposure has ended.
There are numerous causes of air pollution, leading to debilitating health issues that can worsen over time and ultimately prove fatal. Particles of hazardous substances in the air in factories, construction, mining, agriculture and other settings can cause issues.
According to industry watchdog the Health and Safety Executive, 1.8 million UK workers suffered from work related health issues in 2023, the majority being lung problems. Some were existing conditions and others were new.
The HSE estimates 12,000 people die annually in the UK from lung problems caused by past exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
Businesses today must stay compliant with air quality regulations to keep employees safe and avoid fines.
The diseases include asbestosis, when workers have breathed in asbestos fibres, which causes lung scarring over time. The symptoms can occur ten to 40 years after the exposure ends. They include a dry, persistent cough; shortness of breath; a tight chest; crackling sounds in the lungs when inhaling; and chest pains.
Asbestos related lung cancer accounts for 20% of lung disease related deaths in the UK. As it takes a long time to develop, the HSE says the high figure represents the effects of past working conditions before safety measures were so stringent.
When employees breathe in dusts, gases, vapours and fumes in the workplace, it often causes asthma symptoms, including wheezing and a chronic cough.
While it’s possible to reverse the condition if diagnosed early enough, people in certain industries remain at a higher risk, including food processing, manufacturing, farming, cotton and textiles, animal care and refining operations.
It is particularly prevalent in the food production industry, where occupational asthma accounts for 33% of compensation claims under the DWP Industrial Injuries Scheme.
Silicosis is caused when workers breathe in airborne crystalline silica – a type of dust found in the air during blasting operations, on building sites, at mines and foundries.
Described as the next asbestos by television home improvement expert Tommy Walsh; silica dust is found in the air in glass, stone and clay manufacturing facilities, causing lung scarring, as well as increasing the risks of other lung diseases. He is calling for more action now in recognising the dangers to avoid a new “asbestos crisis” in years to come.
Commonly known as COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease describes a group of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The breathing problems usually worsen over the years and can stop sufferers from carrying out their normal activities. A persistent cough and continual tiredness are among the main symptoms.
Exposure to fumes, dust and chemicals are the most common causes of COPD, the third leading cause of death worldwide. Exposure can be prevented by putting the relevant safety measures in place at work.
Companies can determine whether the air quality is good by commissioning professionals to carry out an assessment, known as LEV testing.
Under the COSHH regulations, suppliers of Local Exhaust Ventilation systems, such as AirBench, must complete a statutory Thorough Examination and Test. The law applies to all fume and dust extraction systems in workplaces, ensuring the units are designed and commissioned with the statutory LEV test in mind. The regulations also specify statutory test intervals once the initial testing has been carried out.
Industries that have a minimum testing frequency of one month include processes where blasting is carried out or where they are connected to the cleaning of metal castings during their manufacture. Tests must be carried out every six months at premises where metal (excluding platinum, gold and iridium) is polished, ground or abrased mechanically in a room for more than 12 hours per week.
A six-monthly check is also mandatory for businesses where processes giving off dust or fumes are carried out to produce non-ferrous metal castings. A test every 14 months is permitted for premises carrying out all other processes. Most users choose annual testing to ensure compliance is achieved during the 14-month mandatory period between tests.
If you already have an AirBench unit, our automated system will send you a reminder when you are approaching the 12-month mark.
AirBench offers a wide selection of downdraught benches and cross draught extraction systems to ensure your workplace complies with legal requirements to keep employees safe.
As an industry leading supplier, we have more than 10,000 dust extraction systems and fume extraction systems keeping the air clean at premises in the UK and overseas.
We also offer a range of air cleaning systems and coolant mist filters to actively help businesses across many different industries to solve workplace dust and fume issues.
AirBench Ltd are the UK’s leading manufacturer of downdraught benches and cross draught extraction systems. We have more than 10,000 extraction systems in service in the UK and overseas. Along with our range of coolant mist filters and air cleaning systems, we are actively helping businesses across many industries solve their workplace dust and fume issues.
If you'd like to try an AirBench product for FREE simply book a demo and we'll bring one to you.
If you’d like to try an AirBench product for FREE simply book a demo and we’ll bring one to you.