Page 37 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2023

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Safety
POSTER COMPETITION
WIN
a Glasurit branded
limited edition SATA spray gun
is no
accident
Giving up a career you enjoy and have
experienced success
in can be distressing, especially if this impacts you financially.
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Chest tightness
• Abnormal breathing pattern
Your doctor will ask about the type of work you were doing and the possible haz- ardous agents involved. Also the frequen- cy and duration of exposure as well as the type of protective measures used to reduce your risk of exposure, such as PPE.
Your doctor will also ask you about oth- er lifestyle factors, such as smoking and/or vaping history, including whether you have been exposed to passive smoke. Even if you have a history of smoking, you can still be diagnosed with an occupational lung disease.
Occupational lung diseases can be diffi- cult to diagnose. To confirm the diagnosis, your GP will refer you to a respiratory spe- cialist or occupational specialist doctor, such as an occupational physician, early on in the process. An occupational physi- cian is an expert in work-related disease.
Being diagnosed with an occupational
lung disease can feel overwhelming and frightening. Your life and that of your family will go through a series of sig- nificant changes, and it may take some time to adjust to the physical challenges and new limitations of living with an oc- cupational lung disease.
One of the most significant changes you will need to adjust to is changing occupations or industries or, potentially, leaving the workforce entirely – possibly much earlier than you anticipated. Giv- ing up a career you enjoy and have expe- rienced success in can be distressing, especially if this impacts you and your family financially.
Although there is currently no cure for most occupational lung diseases, taking care of your health and manag- ing your disease on a day-to-day basis can help improve how you feel.
There’s enough of a skills crisis in the industry already, it can’t afford to lose talent through lung issues that are pre- ventable.
The earlier a person is diagnosed with a lung issue the more treatable they are, so if you have any concerns you are ad- vised to seek medical help immediately. To find out more about occupational lung disease visit: lungfoundation. com.au
PLUS
OTHER PRIZES TO BE WON. T&Cs apply.
ABOVE & LEFT: It’s important to see a doctor as soon as symptoms occur.
FIND OUT MORE
glasurit.com/au/news