Page 36 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2023

SAFETY
36
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023
LOOK AFTER YOUR LUNGS
THERE’S A REASON WHY YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE MET ANYONE WITH OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASE IN THIS INDUSTRY – BECAUSE WHEN THEY ARE DIAGNOSED THEY USUALLY HAVE TO LEAVE.
E
VERYONE WHO WORKS IN A
collision repair business is at risk of developing occupa- tional lung disease (OLD) -
not just the technicians in the workshop. People working in areas that are near hazardous agents, such as administration staff working in areas where there is dust, or fumes can also
be at risk.
As far as this magazine is aware there
is no specific data on how many people in our industry develop OLD. When they do develop a lung issue they are often told by medical professionals that they cannot continue with their profession
and need to look at a change of career. So essentially there are very few people with lung issues actually working in col- lision repair.
The time it takes to develop an OLD varies. Some can develop within months or years of work, and some can develop long after you have left the job – up to decades later. Occupational asthma (a type of work-related asthma) can devel- op soon after starting a job.
Everyone has a right to be safe at work and your lung health is no exception. Occupational Lung Diseases are pre- ventable. The collision repair business owner is legally responsible for the
health of their staff which means that they must not tolerate staff wearing in- complete personal protection equipment or technicians not using dust or fume extraction equipment.
SEEK HELP
The first step to identifying the risk of, or diagnosing any occupational lung disease, is a discussion with your GP about your medical and occupational history, including symptoms you may be experiencing and any previous or current exposure to hazardous agents. Occupational lung disease symptoms are typically,