Asthma 'costing UK business millions'

Spray painters can become sensitised to isocyanates

Employers could save themselves billions of pounds by removing substances from the workplace that cause asthma, the TUC has said.

It says those who expose staff to substances such as glue, resin, and wood dust risk losing money through lower productivity, high staff turnover, and compensation claims.

Unchecked asthma at work is going to cost British business £3bn over the next 10 years

Owen Tudor
TUC

The UK economy could lose up to £3bn over the next decade because of the problem, the union organisation warned.

A group convened by the Health and Safety Executive is due to meet next week to discuss the issue, with the intention of introducing a legally binding code of practice for employers by the middle of the year.

A survey of 1,000 union reps found that only 8% of employers were substituting asthma-causing substances with safer alternatives.

Owen Tudor, the TUC's Senior Policy officer, told the BBC: "The survey shows that 20 people every day are developing asthma in Britain because of their work.

Business case

"Unchecked asthma at work is going to cost British business £3bn over the next 10 years.

"We are trying to get that message across so that business understands the business case for controlling asthma at work."

The TUC accused the NHS of "squandering" tens of millions of pounds to replace nurses and other staff because of continued use of items such as powdered latex gloves.

Mr Tudor said asthma typically affected young people, often in skilled jobs.

Powdered latex gloves can cause sensitivity

"It stops them working in that occupation ever again because once you are sensitised to a particular substance, like latex that nurses come across in gloves they use, like isocyanates, the spray painters are using ... you can't work with that substance again.

"Employers have to pay huge compensation in terms of lost earnings and they then have to retrain staff, employ new staff to do the jobs that those skilled workers were doing before," Mr Tudor added.

More than 150,000 people in Britain suffer from occupational asthma, according to the TUC.