5 Essential Safety Standards for Protecting Employees From Occupational Lung Diseases

Five key safety standards are crucial for preventing occupational lung diseases.

• By Rupert Jones
• Sep 20, 2024

Occupational lung diseases occur when employees inhale dust, fibers, fog, smoke or chemicals irritating the lungs. The most common work-related lung illnesses include asbestosis, chemical pneumonitis, silicosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. 

While some occupational lung illnesses can develop rapidly from the time of exposure, others take years to be detected, which is why workers need to undergo medical screening regularly. In addition to regular tests, OSHA recommends various preventive and control measures to curb the risk of work-related respiratory ailments among workers.

Here are five essential safety standards for protecting employees from occupational lung diseases.

1. Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment employees wear to minimize exposure to hazards—including chemicals and radiological materials—that can cause severe illnesses. PPE may include safety glasses, helmets, masks, gloves, respirators, or full-body suits.

If introducing PPE to the company, ensure it is safely designed, comfortable, and maintained cleanly and reliably. OSHA requires companies to provide procedures for cleaning, storing, inspecting, replacing and discarding personal protective equipment to ensure effectiveness.

Additionally, training employees on the proper use of PPE to prevent work-related lung diseases is essential. The training must address how to put on and remove the equipment and its limitations of use.

2. Regular Medical Screenings

Some occupational lung diseases may not be visible through symptoms rapidly after exposure to hazardous workplace elements. Therefore, it is crucial to implement regular medical screenings, helping to detect hidden cases promptly before they become severe and challenging to treat.

An example of a workplace illness that may need thorough screening to detect is lung cancer. It would be best if companies liaised with medical experts to implement various cancer screening techniques, such as low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), chest X-ray, sputum cytology, biomarker testing and pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Regular medical screenings will help affected employees explore various treatment options for lung cancer patients, which are significantly effective if the disease is detected on time. These medical solutions—including chemotherapy, radiation regimens and immunotherapy—can treat different types of occupational lung cancer, such as non-small cell and small cell lung cancer and lung carcinoid tumors.

3. Ventilation Systems

Ventilation is not something that just circulates air throughout the company's facilities. It also plays an essential role in indoor air quality, impacting employees' respiratory health.

Employees in workplaces with poor indoor air quality will likely experience dizziness, headaches and fatigue. Extended exposure can result in lung disease and cancer, which is why it is vital to ventilate workspaces adequately.

A well-ventilated room should be in accordance with the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems, which work excellently to capture and eliminate airborne contaminants and the source. It is also critical to monitor the ventilation system regularly and adjust it depending on workplace changes.

4. Hazard Communication

OSHA has a Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), which compels employers to notify their employees about all the harmful substances they may be exposed to in their occupation. Hazard communication aims to enhance workers' safety by ensuring all dangerous chemicals are evaluated appropriately.

An effective hazard communication strategy should have five essential elements. These elements include hazard identification, chemical labeling and warning, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), information and training, and program implementation. 

Basically, when designing a hazard communication program, create an inventory of all the harmful materials in the work area and label them well with appropriate warning signs. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) describe the materials comprehensively, including their physical properties and effects. This information can be vital during safety training meetings.

5. Workplace Control

Employers can implement various occupational strategies to lower employees' exposure to hazardous elements. This could include substituting harmful chemicals in the production phase with safer alternatives or modifying work processes to reduce the generation of carcinogens.

Additionally, administrative controls like rotating job assignments to limit exposure time could be effective. Job rotation spreads the exposure across several employees, protecting individuals from receiving high cumulative doses of a single hazardous substance.

Nevertheless, continuous exposure monitoring is essential to detect the concentration of harmful elements in the work environment. Use industrial hygiene assessments such as air sampling, chemical exposure tests, radiation surveys, and ventilation tests to identify and regulate exposure risks.

Closing Thoughts

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