Bakers 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma

London - Bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average UK worker, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is warning thousands of workers in the industry to take precautions against developing serious respiratory illnesses.

Workers exposed to flour and other bakery dusts can develop asthma unless sensible precautions are taken. Shortness of breath, wheezing and painful coughing are just some of the symptoms that occupational asthma suffers may have to deal with every day.

HSE is sending bakeries copies of a pocket card containing advice for workers on what they can do themselves to protect their health. The card gives examples of good working practices. HSE estimates that some 27,000 of the 100,000 workers in the British baking industry will regularly be working with flour as an ingredient.

Steve Coldrick, 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."