Spirometry is a common test used to help diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measuring how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath.
They not only protect employees from potential health complications but also help employers remain compliant with relevant legislation.
In industries which involve exposure to dust, fumes, or other airborne particles, regular lung function tests are a vital part of health surveillance. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, employers have a legal duty to protect their workforce from health risks, including respiratory risks.
If your workplace is potentially dangerous for employee lung health, then a robust respiratory health surveillance programme and regular risk assessments in the exposed areas will keep work-related asthma cases to a minimum.
Lung function testing can be used to respond to specific workplace exposures or as a periodic health assessment to help monitor early signs of respiratory problems. You can also include it in pre-employment screenings to ensure an employee is fit for their role.
Also known as a lung function test or pulmonary test, a spirometry test includes several assessments that evaluate lung performance to detect and monitor lung conditions that could affect an employee’s ability to work safely. These assessments measure how much air the lungs can hold, how quickly you can inhale or exhale, and how effectively the lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Before the test, employees receive instructions to avoid activities and substances that could affect lung function such as smoking, heavy meals and vigorous exercise for a few hours before the test.
Our healthcare professional conducting the test will also review the employee’s medical history including any respiratory conditions and other factors that can affect the results. During the test, the employee takes a deep breath and then exhales as forcefully as possible into a mouthpiece connected to the equipment. The test may be repeated several times to ensure accurate results.
Choose Occupational Health provides professional lung function testing for businesses nationwide, and if our expert team detects any underlying respiratory health issues, we then offer our professional recommendations. All spirometry testing is carried out by our experienced staff who are highly trained to provide accurate and reliable results.
If your workplace could be endangering employee lung health or you are interested in a risk assessment and health surveillance, then get in touch with our friendly team at Choose Occupational Health today by calling 01228 513687.