Understanding asthma in a working world
Asthma is a condition that narrows the airways and makes breathing more difficult, but this barely captures how disruptive it can be for someone trying to get through the working day. At its core, asthma is a long-term inflammatory condition of the lungs that causes the air passages to tighten and swell. When this happens, the simple act of moving from one meeting to the next or walking along a factory floor can become a real challenge. In workplaces across the West Midlands and beyond, employees with asthma are quietly navigating these difficulties every day.
How asthma begins and why triggers matter
To understand how best to support workers, it helps to understand what causes asthma in the first place. For some people, asthma begins in childhood and continues throughout adulthood, shaped by genetics and early-life exposures. For others, the symptoms appear later because of environmental or workplace conditions. In both cases, the underlying issue is the same: the lungs become overly sensitive to certain triggers. These triggers can be as familiar as dust, cold air or pollen, or in the workplace, it can be irritants like fumes, chemicals or flour dust. Asthma rarely appears out of nowhere, it is often the result of repeated exposure to something the lungs simply do not tolerate well.
Recognising symptoms before they escalate
Asthma symptoms tend to begin with a tightness in the chest or a soft wheeze that surfaces when someone carries out strenuous tasks. Coughing may linger after a cold, or a worker may find themselves unusually short of breath during tasks that normally pose no difficulty. In a busy workplace, these signs are easy to dismiss. Someone might attribute them to being unfit, tired or run down. When symptoms escalate, they can become frightening, breathing quickens, the chest constricts further and the individual may feel unable to draw in enough air. A colleague might think someone is simply stressed or panicking, when in reality they are experiencing a flare up.
What individuals can do when asthma strikes
Most people who have asthma will carry an inhaler, often a reliever inhaler that quickly opens the airways during flare-ups. Knowing when to use it and acting early is essential. Equally important is identifying the patterns that lead to symptoms. This might involve noticing that symptoms worsen in a particular area of the workplace, after exposure to certain tasks or during certain seasons. Once those patterns become clear, adjustments can be made. Workers who communicate openly, give employers the best opportunity put plans in place that allow them to continue performing at their best.
Creating a supportive workplace culture
The first step for employers is to maintain ventilation systems properly and be conscious of how chemicals, dust or fumes are used and controlled. Sometimes the solution is as small as relocating an employee’s workstation away from irritants. Other times it might involve more structured adjustments, such as adapting certain tasks or implementing respiratory health assessments. It is also helpful to create an environment where workers feel comfortable discussing their health needs. What truly defines a supportive culture is a sense of shared responsibility. That means educating employers and colleagues so that they know what to do in the event of a flare up.
Preventing workplace-related asthma before it starts
The idea that asthma can be prevented may sound surprising, but in many cases, workplace-related asthma develops because of prolonged exposure to harmful substances. Employers can take meaningful steps to prevent this by monitoring the materials used on site, evaluating ventilation and establishing safe handling procedures. Other measures include substituting hazardous substances with safer alternatives, enclosing processes that generate dust or fumes and ensuring protective equipment is available and used properly. When prevention becomes part of the organisation’s routine thinking, rather than a reaction after symptoms appear, the entire workforce benefits.
Closing the loop on workplace asthma
Addressing asthma in the workplace encourages us to think about the work environments we build and how they impact our workforces. In offices, workshops and factories, asthma becomes a reminder of how closely our wellbeing is tied to the air we share and the awareness we bring to it. When employers and colleagues understand the nature of asthma and respond with genuine attentiveness, the workspace shifts from a place of risk to one of safety. At MOHS we help you identify the early signs of respiratory conditions with our health screening and surveillance services. Learn more at https://mohs.co.uk/services/occupational-health/health-surveillance/