COPD is closely tied to long-term smoking, but other factors can put you at risk for the condition, too, such as the dust, chemical fumes, and air pollution you breathe on a regular basis at work. Since most of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work, your occupation can raise your risk of a COPD diagnosis — some more than others.
Which Jobs Pose the Most Risk for COPD?
People with the following occupations have the highest risk of developing COPD and related lung diseases due to the dust or chemicals at their jobs:
- Coal miners
- Cotton fiber workers
- Hard rock miners
- Tunnel workers
- Concrete manufacturers
- Non-mining industrial workers
In all of these occupations, there are tasks and settings where fibers and dust can be inhaled, increasing lung irritation and damage.
COPD Diagnosis: How to Reduce Your Risk
Even if you have a high-risk job, there are steps you can take to control your exposure to lung irritants and your risk of COPD. Strategies to reduce your risk of workplace exposure include:
- Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. While occupational dust exposure is a risk factor for COPD, people who smoke and are also exposed to workplace irritants have twice the risk of chronic lung problems compared with coworkers who do not smoke.
- Learn specific work habits that limit dust exposure. A study of employees at a coal plant found that simple steps can reduce dust exposure significantly. Strategies included allowing dust to settle before handling bags filled with coal and using high-quality bags for transporting materials. Depending on your work process, you may learn other tricks of the trade, such as preventing dust inhalation by avoiding working around open containers.
- Vacuum or mop instead of sweeping. Sweeping in a facility where high-risk occupations take place increases dust in the air — so it is best to schedule clean-up for times when workers are not around. Washing floors or vacuuming also creates less airborne dust than sweeping.
- Use industrial vacuums to collect dust. Using an industrial vacuum with a hood or shroud can reduce dust exposure as you work. The appropriateness of this tool depends on your task. For example, concrete workers can use vacuums when they are grinding concrete or mortar to reduce the dust they might otherwise inhale — but in tight spaces they may have to wear a respirator mask instead.
- Be conscious of your clothing. During winter months workers may wear heavy coats that absorb dust. Because they are not cleaned as often as normal clothing, they become sources of dust exposure. If you must wear a coat, choose a synthetic fabric that is less likely to hold onto dust than wool or cotton. You can also use a handheld vacuum to remove some of the dust that may be contaminating your clothing — and of course, clean your work clothes regularly.
- Wear a respirator mask. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that workers use a P-, N-, or R-95 respirator mask if they work in occupations with high dust levels. It is also important that your employer make necessary changes in your workplace environment to improve ventilation, since it can be harder to breathe while wearing a respirator mask.
- Get yearly breathing tests. Your workplace employee health program may offer breathing tests called spirometry to find out if your lung function is changing as a result of occupational exposures. If this is not available at your job, ask for it through your doctor's office. Talk to your doctor about your job and your concerns, so you can work together to monitor your lungs closely.
By knowing the workplace risks that can increase your chances of COPD, you can take steps to reduce your exposure and keep your lungs healthy for a long time to come.
Last Updated: 7/1/2013