What you need to know
Guidance: what you need to know – respiratory protection
update
In our third and final article on
respiratory protection, Connect looks at a new campaign IOSH is
involved in called ‘Clean Air – Take Care’.
Headlines
• 15 per cent of all cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease may be work-related
• IOSH is involved in several initiatives connected with
respiratory protection, including the ‘Clean Air – Take Care’
campaign which launches next month.
Connect has previously published two articles on
respiratory protection. The first article looked at the problems caused by
airborne contaminants and what action we need to take to prevent
chronic and acute respiratory illnesses. The second article highlighted the importance of fit
testing and how to choose respiratory protective equipment
(RPE).
Thousands of workers in Britain develop lung problems and cancer
each year, because they breathe in too much dust, fume or other
airborne contaminants at work. Latest statistics
from the HSE indicate that around 15 per cent of all cases of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis
and emphysema, may be work-related – suggesting some 4,000 annual
deaths caused by COPD as a result of work. In 2007 there were 96
deaths from asbestosis and 156 from other types of pneumoconiosis,
mostly due to coal dust and silica. In addition, about 4,000 cancer
deaths each year are caused by past exposure to asbestos.
The Health and Safety Laboratory is currently finalising
research on Influencing the implementation of RPE programmes in
the workplace. Early findings show the main issues to be lack
of knowledge and training, poor maintenance and storage together
with poor supervision and enforcement. Also, there was a need to
build a business case for RPE. Even though RPE might be adequate,
often the suitability for the individual was not, hence the
importance of face fit testing. Recommendations from this research
are expected to include the need for companies to:
• have a targeted communications strategy for RPE
• support managers in the implementation of the RPE
programmes
• work closely with intermediaries – for example suppliers and
insurers.
Other research has
been carried out by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). This research
is an overview of evidence on RPE and user behaviour. It provides
an evidence-base for factors influencing the use (or non-use) of
RPE in the workplace and on how well RPE programmes are currently
implemented. The findings stress the influential role of management
if RPE programmes are to be successful.
IOSH is involved in several initiatives connected with
respiratory protection. We have a member on the HSE Respiratory
Protective Project steering group, which met for the first time
last October. As well as IOSH, it includes the British Safety
Industry Federation, British Occupational Hygiene Society, Cast
Metals Federation, Chemical Industries Association, Engineering
Employers’ Federation, Federation of Small Businesses, GMB, IOM,
International Association of Drilling Contractors, Mineral Products
Association, Step Change in Safety (representing the Oil and Gas
Industry), TUC and UK Contractors Group.
The overall aim of the group is to support the development of
tools and carry out work to help the spread of good practice. This
includes revision of HSG 53, the
production of a DVD and helping to deliver new RPE web pages for
the HSE website. The steering group acts as an ‘industry voice’,
bringing together various stakeholder views and helping inform how
employers could develop and improve RPE programmes. It’s also an
opportunity for stakeholders to influence and support HSE strategy
in this area.
In November 2009, IOSH hosted an RPE wearability workshop
chaired by Charles Tracey, a Chartered Fellow of IOSH, who
represents IOSH on the BSI panels on RPE. The workshop was attended
by 20 representatives from industry, unions, government and
professional bodies and considered what employers, users,
manufacturers, suppliers and regulators could do to improve the
wearability of RPE. Agreed actions from the workshop included:
• formation of a smaller working group to consider an
accreditation scheme for manufacturers and distributors of
RPE
• development of guidance and training tools
• influencing standards bodies to include appropriate
consideration of human factors for RPE (such as its weight,
comfort, etc.)
• preparation of a research proposal to develop a model to
predict comfort for RPE.
As previously reported in Connect, IOSH and HSE are supporting
the BSIF ‘Clean Air – Take Care’ campaign, due to launch in London
in March. The working group, which includes representatives from
HSE, BSIF and IOSH, has produced an RPE selection guide, a poster
for use in companies and a PowerPoint presentation to help train
managers about RPE. IOSH members can hear more about the campaign
at the annual IOSH conference and exhibition in Glasgow next
month.
The provision and use of suitable RPE is, of course, the last
option in the ‘hierarchy of controls’, as explained in our first
article on this topic. Both elimination and substitution are the
first options, followed by isolation and local exhaust ventilation
– removing airborne contaminants at work before people can breathe
them in. IOSH has provided
development funding to help distribute new LEV course material,
developed by HSE and HSL, for trainers and advisers. Experienced
professional development trainers will receive briefing from HSE,
customise the training material and deliver it through a series of
training sessions to our members, so that they can share key
messages in their workplaces.