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Manufacturing - Occupational Health

To find more information on the potential health risks that may exist in your workplace, please see the following links below

Introduction

Health in manufacturing

It is estimated that over 300 people die each year in Northern Ireland with their death attributable to work related causes of illness. The majority of deaths involve diseases of the lungs following exposure to substances such as asbestos, silica, diesel fume, dusts, gases and vapours. The resulting ill health manifests in conditions such as:

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • mesothelioma
  • asbestosis
  • lung cancer

In particular, cases of occupational asthma are five times higher in the manufacturing sector than any other industry. Other vital organs are susceptible to exposure to mineral oils and chemicals. In addition, exposure to noise and vibration can cause disabling health conditions that can occur gradually over time.

As an employer, you must make sure your employees health is not impacted by their work. It is vital that employers assess the potential health risks in their workplace and put adequate control measures in place to protect their employees’ health.

Health and safety law requires health surveillance when your workers remain exposed to health risks even after you have put controls in place. This is because control measures may not always be reliable, despite appropriate checking, training and maintenance. Health risks which require health surveillance include noise, vibration and substances hazardous to health.

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To download a PDF version of this webpage please see the following link:

  • Health in manufacturing - Resource List

To find more information on the potential health risks that exist in your workplace, please visit the relevant industry webpages below:

Engineering

Metalworking fluids

  • Metalworking fluids article
  • Machining with metalworking fluids (hse.gov.uk)

Welding

  • Welding topic page

Isocyanates

  • Isocyanates (hseni.gov.uk)
  • COSHH Essentials general guidance - Urine sampling (biological monitoring) for isocyante exposure measurement (hse.gov.uk)

Noise

  • Noise at work (hse.gov.uk)
  • Noise in engineering (hse.gov.uk)

Lead

  • Lead topic page

Vibration

  • Vibration (hse.gov.uk)

Surface engineering

  • Issues of ill health in the surface engineering industry (hse.gov.uk)
  • Powder coating (hse.gov.uk)
  • Pressure blasting/abrasive blasting (hse.gov.uk)

Woodworking

  • Woodworking and health article page
  • Woodworking - Health topics (hse.gov.uk)

Printing

  • Printing - Health topics (hse.gov.uk)
  • Printing industry - COSHH guidance (hse.gov.uk)

Plastics

  • Health issues in the plastics industry (hse.gov.uk)

Paper

  • Paper industry - Health topics (hse.gov.uk)

Rubber

  • Health and safety topics in the rubber and tyre industries (hse.gov.uk)
  • Rubber - COSHH Guidance (hse.gov.uk)

Stonemasonry

  • Stoneworkers (hse.gov.uk)
  • Stoneworkers - COSHH guidance (hse.gov.uk)
  • Controlling exposure to stone dust - HSG201 (hse.gov.uk)

Textiles

  • Textiles - Health topics (hse.gov.uk)

Other useful links

  • The Workplace Health Leadership Group (NI) Navigator Tool (WHLG website)
  • Tips for purchasing occupational health services
  • HSE health surveillance information (hse.gov.uk)
  • Hand Arm Vibration Information for Employees (hse.gov.uk)
  • Noise: Don’t lose your hearing INDG 363 (hse.gov.uk)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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