Respiratory Hazards: A Silent Risk in the Workplace
Respiratory hazards are a silent risk in many workplaces, from dusty workshops and boiler houses to water systems and older buildings. Even small, everyday exposures can accumulate over time, leading to serious conditions like COPD, asbestosis, silicosis, and Legionnaires' disease.
David Lissah and Business partner, Rebecca Boyle, delivered a recent session for Unite the Union safety reps that explored practical steps to identify, assess, and control lung hazards across a variety of regulated industries, including aviation and manufacturing. Key takeaways included:
Understanding lung health hazards
What's in the air, how it affects workers, and why early detection matters.
Practical risk assessment
Assess, control, record, and review—applying the hierarchy of control consistently.
Basic controls for common hazards
From dust and asbestos to legionella and welding fumes.
The role of safety reps
Actively participate in risk assessments, encourage reporting of hazards, and collaborate with management to shape safer workplaces.
Real-world examples
Illustrating how even simple interventions, like improving welfare facilities can prevent harm and protect vulnerable workers.
The session reinforced that lung health is not just about compliance, it's about people. Small signals missed in daily operations can have long-term consequences. Safety reps and managers play a crucial role in turning awareness into action, protecting teams, and embedding sustainable, practical controls.
Pause. Reflect. Lead with intention. Every conversation, every check, and every improvement makes a difference in creating safer, healthier workplaces.