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Occupational Medicine 2005 55(8):600-605; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqi184
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

IN-DEPTH REVIEW

Occupational asthma prevention and management in industry—an example of a global programme

Paul F. G. Gannon1, A. S. Berg2, R. Gayosso3, B. Henderson2, S. E. Sax4 and H. M. J. Willems5

1 DuPont, Geneva, Switzerland
2 DuPont, Wilmington, DE, USA
3 DuPont, Mexico City, Mexico
4 DuPont, Ajax, Ontario, Canada
5 DuPont, Mechelen, Belgium

Isocyanates are widely used in the manufacture of polyurethane foams, plastics, coatings and adhesives, and are known to cause occupational asthma in a proportion of exposed workers. Substitution as a prevention strategy is not currently a feasible option. For this reason, health and safety professionals working together in an automotive coatings business created a proactive global programme to address the known potential effects of isocyanates on its workers. The goals of the programme are prevention, early detection and mitigation of effect of key endpoints, especially asthma and to a lesser degree dermatitis, in people who are occupationally exposed, or potentially exposed, to isocyanates and products containing isocyanates. The surveillance programme for isocyanates has several important components, which include assessment of exposure, pre-placement questionnaire and spirometry, training and education of employees, regularly administered periodic questionnaires, medical assessment for abnormal questionnaire responses, process for early reporting and investigation of symptomatic employees and incidents, group data review and management reporting. Although regional differences exist regarding availability of specialized services, we have successfully implemented this programme in parts of North America, Europe and Latin America, and are currently implementing elsewhere. These simple control measures are relatively inexpensive and can be applied in even small business settings. It is recommended that all employers who manufacture, handle or use isocyanate-containing products consider such a strategy.

Keywords      Isocyanates; occupational asthma; prevention

Correspondence to: Paul F. G. Gannon, Medical Director Europe, DuPont de Nemours International SA, Case Postale 50, 2, Chemin du Pavillon, CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex/GE, Switzerland. e-mail: paul.gannon{at}che.dupont.com


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