Annual spirometry gives no useful information about sensitisation or asthma except that it will pick up those chronic asthmatics with accelerated decline in lung function. For the diagnosis of asthma, a much better (theoretical) plan would be good worker education and good access to qualified OH professionals so that there is early self-referral to an appropriately experienced OHA or OP at the first sign os symptoms, which are then evaluated further with a serial peak flow record and tests for sensitisation. However, in the real world, an annual appointment with an OHA does two things (a) it underlines the seriousness of the exposure and (b) brings the person into contact with the OHA who can ask probing questions about symptoms and reinforce advice about minimising exposure.
Best wishes - Kate
>>> diane romano woodward <[log in to unmask]> 07/12/02 11:02:50 >>>
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/>
>
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