7 Industries that Put Employees at Risk for Lung Damage

There are certain work industries that put employees at risk for lung damage. If you’re wondering what those jobs are, how you can minimize your risk while working and what kinds of hazards exist among these environments, this blog will help you answer your questions.

1.   Hospitality Industry

The hospitality industry is among the leading industries in which employees see consistent exposure to chemicals and carcinogens. From food service to working at a hotel, these employees see risks through smoke, chemicals, and interaction with others.

Bartenders and Waitresses

Serving food and drinks in a smoke-filled room puts bartenders at high risk for lung disease, especially if they are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke over many years. Although many states have a ban in place banning people from smoking in restaurants, employees in non-complying states are at risk for inhalation of smoke.

Secondhand smoke has been linked to lung cancer. It remains a threat to workers in cities where smoking hasn’t been banned in public places. Casino workers also can find themselves surrounded by a cloud of smoke at work.

Bakers

Baking is near the top of the list of asthma-provoking jobs, which altogether accounts for an estimated 15 percent of new asthma cases in adults. An asthmatic reaction to enzymes used to alter the consistency of dough, as well as allergens shed by bugs, such as beetles, moths, and weevils, which is often found in flour, is also common.

Housekeeping

Some cleaning supplies, even the so-called “green” or “natural” products, have harmful chemicals that have been linked to developing asthma. Some release volatile organic compounds, which can contribute to chronic respiratory problems and allergic reactions. Make sure to read the labels of products and follow the instructions thoroughly.

2. Manufacturing Industry

Factory workers in many fields put themselves at risk for occupational asthma and long term lung damage.

Textile Manufacturing

Byssinosis, also called brown lung disease, is common among textile workers who make upholstery, towels, socks, bed linens, and clothes. Workers can inhale particles released from cotton or other materials. When cotton is ripped apart, it creates huge amounts of dust and can cause significant airflow obstruction.

Food Manufacturing

In food plants, diacetyl which is a flavoring agent used in microwave popcorn, some wines, and fast foods, can cause a devastating and sometimes deadly disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, a close relative of COPD.

Metal Manufacturing

Since the early 1900s, employees in manufacturing were at risk for something known as “Hard Metal Disease.” Linked to Tungsten Carbide and Cobalt in the manufacturing process, symptoms include the following: tightening of the chest, cough, clubbing, external dyspnea (shortness of breath), fatigue, the production of sputum and weight loss.

3. Automotive Industry

Occupational asthma can be a risk for those in the automobile industry, particularly in auto-body repair shops. Auto spray-on paints, such as isocyanate and polyurethane products, can irritate skin, create allergies, and cause chest tightness and severe breathing trouble.

4. Construction Industry

Either due to the building or demolition, construction workers are at a continued risk for lung damage. Workers who demolish old buildings or do remodeling can be exposed to asbestos used as insulation around pipes or in floor tiles.

Exposure also seems to raise the risk of small-cell lung cancer and can lead to asbestosis, or scarring of the lung. Removal should be left to trained and licensed crews. Wearing protective gear, including a respirator, when working around older buildings and avoiding smoking can be helpful.

5. Mining Industry

Miners are at high risk for a number of lung diseases, including COPD, because of the dust exposure that occurs. Airborne silica, also known as quartz, can lead to silicosis, a disease that scars lungs.

Coal Mining

Coal miners are at risk for another type of lung-scarring disease called pneumoconiosis (black lung). Years of exposure to coal dust is the culprit. Wearing the right protective equipment can limit the amount of dust inhaled.

6. Salon and Beauty Industry

Many of the chemicals that come into contact with individuals working in the hair or nail care profession can cause increased sensitivity and risk for asthmatic reaction.

Nail Salon Workers

Asthma triggers found in nail salons include fingernail glue remover, artificial nail liquid, formaldehyde in nail polish and nail hardener, nail primer, disinfectants, fingernail glue, and much more. Toxic fumes and asthma make for a dangerous combination.

Hair Salon Workers

The link between hair spray and asthma is understandable. A 2011 study published in the International Archives of Allergy and Immunology administered questionnaires to 1,334 hairdressers and found that just under 10 percent had asthma. Hair dyes have also been linked to asthma, making the beauty salon an ugly workplace with asthma triggers. Good ventilation is important, because wearing a respirator might cause appointments to cancel. It’s important to know what is in the products you’re working with. If you find that they’re not safe, find a safer product.

Other Industries with High Exposure to Workplace Carcinogens

These industries aren’t the only ones that place employees at risk for lung damage. Firefighters are commonly exposed to smoke and other carcinogens. Farmers, both animals and plants see risks for adverse respiratory reactions. Transportation and dock workers see risks from product handling and exhaust fumes. Health care workers come in contact with both patients and latex dust that can cause long term asthmatic or allergic reactions.

If you have been working in any of these industries and have been diagnosed with a work-related lung disease, contact one of our certified workers’ compensation law specialists. 

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Cole, Fisher, Cole, O’Keefe + Mahoney is Central California’s leading workers’ compensation and social security disability law firm. With over 30 years of successful experience, we are committed to securing maximum benefits for our clients in the Fresno, California area. Schedule a free consultation today.