Asthma is a very serious health problem that can ruin lives. Asthma can be caused in a workplace simply by breathing in certain dusts, gases, fumes and vapours that can damage your health.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a major cause of disability and death, thousands of people die each year from work-related lung diseases and in many cases due to exposures that took place many years before. COPD describes a number of breathing problems where there is damage to the breathing tubes and air sacs within the lung. Breathing in certain dusts, fumes, chemicals or gases in the workplace can cause serious long term lung damage.