Can I ask the group if they feel that annual or other frequency spirometry
is actually of any use in the situation of exposure of asthmagens. Would
not a questionnaire be sufficient with more intensive follow up of those
experiencing symptoms e.g.frequent peak flow readings over a week , at home
and work? This combined with the instructions to contact OH if symptoms
arise before the next health surveillance? Your comments please..

Many thanks
Diane Woodward

---- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart Cooper" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: Health surveillance for colophony solder


> Hi Alan,
>
> Please excuse me if I cover things that you know.
>
> The quick answer to your question is that I cannot remember from my brief
> spell in manufacturing of any particular threshold.  I think that the
answer
> would be that it would depend upon the COSHH risk assessment, as always.
>
> Every work area obviously has different levels of control methods and
> therefore different thresholds - with the gold star in this case being
> ventilation.  Others only use PPE.  I think the usual line is "Where there
> is a likelihood of symptoms occurring in the individual workplace, a
health
> surveillance programme should be established ....".
>
> There are three HSE leaflets that you may or may not know of that are
quite
> good - 'Solder Fume and You" (IND(G) 248L, 'Controlling health risks from
> rosin (colophony) based solder fluxes' (IND(G) 249L) and, most usefully,
> 'Assessing exposure to rosin (colophony) based solder flux fume'
> (Engineering sheet no 17).
>
> The first is available on line ....
>
> http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg248.pdf
>
> You have obviously done a risk assessment and take all necessary steps to
> get the MEL down to the EH40 requirement.
>
> My own view would be that health surveillance should not be necessary
where
> people only have occasional use of solder where there is adequate controls
> in place.  I would place regular users on a programme though.
>
> Clearly education for all users will be important, particularly with
regard
> to health effects to look out for; as you know dermatitis and asthma are
the
> primary issues.  There may also be some argument for screening those to be
> exposed, even occasionally, to ensure that they do not have any
> pre-disposing medical condition that may make them particularly
susceptible.
>
> I have looked in my 'little black book' of good websites.
>
> Try Wokingham government:
>
>
http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/sys_upl/templates/StdRight/StdRight_disp.asp?pgi
> d=4482&tid=71
>
> BBC Safety:
>
> http://www.bbc-safety.co.uk/guidance/coshh/solder.html
>
> This answer is probably is as useful as a chocolate fire guard isn't it?!
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Stu.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Swann, Alan B" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 1:38 PM
> Subject: Health surveillance for colophony solder
>
>
> > Dear all,
> > What is a sensible threshold for keeping people working with solder fume
> > under health surveillance?
> >
> > We have many occasional users of solder in College: technicians who on
an
> > intermittent basis will carry out repairs or make up bespoke electrical
> > rigs, or students on project work. There is lots we can & are doing on
> > prevention of exposure, but we'll be left with a rag-bag of situations
> where
> > we cannot be certain that no exposure will occur. However, there are
real
> > practical (& credibility) difficulties on having a policy which says
> survey
> > every user who may be exposed, irrespective of frequency & duration of
use
> > etc.
> > Anyone out there  got a sensible, defensible, marketable threshold?
> >
> > Ps Thanks (Occ-Health discussion group) for the wonderfully sensible
> > discussion over the week on how to handle conflicting fitness reports.
> >
> >
> > Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
> > Director of Occupational Health
> > Occupational Health Service
> > Imperial College Health Centre
> > Watts Way
> > London
> > SW7 1 LU
> > Tel:    +44 (20) 7594 9385
> > Fax:    +44 (20) 7594 9407
> > http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/ <http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/>
>