You can find more information on the Your trade pages of this website.
Your employer has a duty to protect your health at work. All employees exposed or liable to be exposed to a substance that may cause occupational asthma should be under suitable health surveillance.
If you have symptoms your employer should refer you to an occupational health specialist.
The employer will need to discover whether, and if so how, you are getting the asthma through work and alter the way the job is done to protect you from any further 'exposure'.
Collecting simple information may lead to early signs of ill health and may identify the need for improved control measures, see the Your trade page for more details.
If your symptoms are at an early stage and your employer can reduce your exposure, you may be able to continue in your job and not have any problems. You certainly don't always have to leave your job.
It is important that the cause of your asthma is controlled so that you do not get any worse.
Some jobs may require the use of respiratory protective equipment to control exposure. However, depending on how bad your symptoms are, it may be appropriate to remove you from the problem area and to give you work elsewhere.
If you become a severe asthmatic it may be necessary to take early retirement on health grounds.
First discuss the situation with your employer and/or workplace safety representative. Unions are good at helping their members with claims and your local Citizens Advice Bureau and other voluntary associations, including Asthma UK can give valuable advice.
You may be entitled to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
The pages on this website will go some way to explain what causes occupational asthma.
Further information outside of this website can be found on the Asthma links page.
You should seek medical advice through your occupational health adviser or GP if you have any of the following symptoms: wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.
You really need to be diagnosed with the disease within the first six months.
Early removal from exposure can lead to a complete recovery. Once you have occupational asthma, exposure to any airborne irritant may trigger an attack.
If you have any queries on occupational asthma or work-related asthma, your first point of contact should be HSE's Infoline. You may also wish to contact your union or a voluntary advice association for support.
Asthma UK has an Asthma Helpline run by trained nurses - 08457 010203.
For other sources of information see our Asthma links page.