 |
 |
H Di I don;t have any specific links but when i do an asthma case i always run through the UK Asthma Societies flags for poor control: -Flags for poor control (ref Asthma UK -refer back to GP): · Waking at night with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or a tightness in the chest: Yes/No · time off work because of asthma: Yes/No · difficulty breathing, and breathing short shallow breaths: Yes/No · increasing need for reliever treatment: Yes/No · Reducing perceived effect from reliever: Yes/No · Using reliever more frequently than every four hours: Yes/No · Decreased stamina to usual level of activity or exercise: Yes/No If there is any of these I send back to the GP for assessment. In the workplace at this time of year, in the absence if significant changes to the environment, I would suggest she may have picked up a cough or cold virus if it is a day time cough; the cough can linger for quite a few weeks after the virus has resolved due to residual inflammation of the airways. They are more prevalent in winter because of less fresh air and the office becomes a virus laden petri dish! All you can recommend is Cough, cold and flu viruses are prevalent during autumn/winter months due to increased time indoors and windows being closed against cold weather. Virus droplets (spread by sneezing and coughing) and spread for over a metre and lay active on surfaces for up to 24 hours. Frequent hand washing and surface wiping are the main barriers to transmission of viruses therefore to help reduce contamination (and potential absence) Management may wish to consider: · Putting up posters encouraging hand washing e.g http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@[log in to unmask] · Providing materials (e.g. hard surface wipes) for daily wiping down of work surfaces that are commonly touched (e.g. desks, keyboards, telephones door handles, etc.) Hope that helps Carr On 11 November 2011 14:49, Di Stockbridge <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > ** ** > > Hi,**** > > Anyone have any links to thermal comfort in an open plan office > envirnoment, particulary air quality and exacerbation of asthma related > symtpoms, dry cough mainly.**** > > I have suggested employee monitors their symptoms over the next 2-3 weeks > ( home & work) by taking regular daily peak flow readings to help identify > if work environment should be an aggravating factor or not? **** > > The Work accommodation is old and there is no air conditioning system. *** > * > > ** ** > > My grateful thanks for responses **** > > ** ** > > Di**** > > J **** > > ** ** > > *Di Stockbridge***** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > Occupational Health Nurse**** > > Dynex Semi Conductor**** > > Doddington Road**** > > Lincoln**** > > LN6 3LF**** > > 01522 502719**** > > Email [log in to unmask]**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > **** > > ** ** > ** > > -- > Dynex Semiconductor Limited. > Registered in England and Wales: No 3824626 > Registered Office: Doddington Road, Lincoln, LN6 3LF, United Kingdom > > This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. If > you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender immediately, > delete the email from your system and do not disclose the contents to > another person, use it for any purpose or store or copy the information in > any medium. > Whilst we run anti-virus software on all internet emails we do not accept > responsibility for viruses and advise that in keeping with good computing > practice you should ensure this email and any attachments are virus free. > ******************************** Please remove this footer before > replying. > > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html > > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH > ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH