Asthma risk in British bakeries Asthma risk in British bakeries
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has warned 1,000s of British bakers they are at risk of developing a debilitating respiratory condition unless they take sensible precautions.
Bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average British worker, as they are consistently exposed to flour and other bakery dusts that can develop asthma.
Steve Coldrick, the Director of Disease Reduction at HSE, said: “Flour might seem harmless compared with chemicals used in other industries, but the truth is that unless it is handled correctly it can lead to serious health problems. In extreme cases sufferers of occupational asthma may not be able to return to work.
“By using the correct equipment and making simple changes to working procedures this condition is entirely preventable.”
The Executive estimated that some 27,000 of the 100,000 workers in the British baking industry regularly work with flour as an ingredient.