Work related occupational Asthma is directly associated with workplace exposure to fumes and dust. UK Health and Safety Executive (estimated) Statistics for 2010/11:
• 4,000 deaths each year due to past exposure to fumes, chemicals and dusts
• 7,000 new diagnoses of respiratory disease each year
• 31,000 people who worked in the last 12 months had "breathing or lung problems" caused or made worse by work
• 555,000 working days were lost due to breathing or lung problems
*Source: Occupational Asthma Statistics / HSE 2010-2011.
The implications for lost productivity are considerable but additionally there are other related economic factors to consider such as the cost of NHS treatments and social security payouts for Industrial Injury Disablement Benefits.
Despite these statistics there is a continuing decline in the number of cases. Such improvement can be largely attributed to increased awareness and better defined and managed H&S legislation. This drives the need for effective fume extraction systems. To support an increased awareness for H&S compliance our sales and technical staff regularly support training and educational seminars. Information is also detailed within our sales and marketing literature.
In addition to the legal requirements, the protection and well being of workers has other positive implications. No matter which country or culture occupational health really does matter, as healthy motivated workers are without question more productive.
Within BOFA we constantly monitor and react to the moral and legal issues surrounding occupational environment control. Historically our products have helped establish higher Health & Safety standards, and are now considered as the benchmark for our industry.
BOFA – Working with you to protect your people.
The BOFA Americas, Inc team
The BOFA International team
Dedicated R&D and Manufactuing Facilites