World Bronchiectasis Day is held each year on 1st July, and it aims to raise awareness of a serious but often misunderstood lung condition. Bronchiectasis causes the airways in the lungs to become permanently widened and inflamed, which can lead to a build-up of mucus, making breathing much harder. It currently affects over 300,000 people in the UK alone, but many cases go undiagnosed for years.
It’s commonly linked to long-term respiratory infections or underlying conditions, but bronchiectasis can also develop due to repeated exposure to airborne irritants. In a workplace setting, this should be a clear sign for employers. If you’re not already paying attention to your workplace air quality, now’s the time to put it on the agenda.
Bronchiectasis and the Workplace
The British Thoracic Society points to repeated exposure to dust, fumes, and certain chemicals as potential contributors to developing or worsening bronchiectasis. This is even more noticeable in industries like manufacturing, beauty and nail salons, and those involving solder fumes like jewellers and electronics companies.
Enclosed spaces that lack proper ventilation or extraction allow pollutants to hang in the air far longer than they should. That means that each and every breath an employee takes could be drawing in irritants that put their respiratory health at risk.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) makes it clear.
Employers have a legal duty to control the risks associated with airborne contaminants. Failing to do so could not only lead to health problems but could also breach UK health and safety law, meaning severe repercussions for your organisation.
What Employers Should Be Doing Now
The good news is that action doesn’t need to be complicated or overly expensive. There are a few simple steps that you can take to protect your staff from the risks of bronchiectasis and improve your air quality.
1. Assess the Risks
Start with a clear review of your workspace. Are there fumes, dusts, mists, or other airborne particles being generated as part of daily work? If so, then how are you managing them at the moment? Getting a proper risk assessment ticked off is the first step if you want to meet your legal obligations and protect your team.
2. Improve Ventilation
The simplest way to improve indoor air quality is by increasing airflow. Natural ventilation, like open windows, is a good start, but it’s not going to solve the problem on its own, especially in the spots where harmful particles are generated. Mechanical systems, extractor fans, and local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems are all good options that can reduce the risk for your employees.
3. Invest in Air Extraction Solutions
Where pollutants are localised, like a workbench or treatment station, it’s worth investing in targeted fume or dust extraction, as doing so can make a huge difference. These systems don’t just improve your air quality. They actively remove harmful particles before they even have a chance to circulate in the wider workspace. It’s a proactive way to prevent long-term respiratory issues like bronchiectasis rather than trying to manage the damage later.
4. Maintain your Systems Properly
Extraction and ventilation systems are only effective if they’re well maintained. Filters need to be changed, fans inspected, and airflow checked regularly. Under HSE guidance, LEV systems need a formal inspection and test every 14 months. Skipping maintenance can render even the best system ineffective.
5. Monitor Air Quality Levels
Don’t rely on guesswork. Use proper monitoring to understand what’s in your workspace air. Modern sensors can detect dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and even specific chemical fumes. If you notice elevated levels, it’s a sign that your control measures need to be reviewed.
6. Train Your Team
Your workforce should know what to look out for. Educating your staff on the symptoms of bronchiectasis, as well as other common workplace respiratory conditions, means they’re more likely to seek medical help early. They should also be trained in how to use your extraction equipment properly and why doing so matters.
7. Prioritise a Culture of Safety
Creating a workplace where employees feel encouraged to speak up about issues like poor ventilation or visible dust goes a long way. Culture change generally starts with leadership, and showing you care about the air they breathe makes a strong statement about your commitment to the long-term well-being of your employees.
A Wake-Up Call, Not a Box-Ticking Exercise
Too often do we hear of health and safety being viewed as a compliance exercise. But with respiratory conditions like bronchiectasis affecting so many people across the UK, it’s important that we rethink the real purposes behind those obligations.
Recent data shows us that one in every 100 people has a confirmed diagnosis of bronchiectasis. That number isn’t insignificant, and it doesn’t include the many who are, as of yet, undiagnosed. Conditions like these don’t happen overnight. They build over months or years of exposure to harmful substances in the air.
If you’re not already reviewing your ventilation systems, risk assessments, and employee training, you could be leaving a very real risk on the table.
Want to Protect Your Team with Industry-Leading Extraction Solutions?
At VODEX, we design and supply specialist extraction systems that help businesses meet their health and safety obligations and improve air quality across all kinds of work environments. With fume and dust extraction and customised LEV setups, we make it simple to protect your team from preventable respiratory risks like bronchiectasis. If you’re ready to take control of your workspace air quality, view our extraction solutions or get in touch with us; we’re always happy to help.
FAQs
What symptoms should staff be aware of that might suggest a lung condition?
Persistent coughing, frequent chest infections, shortness of breath, and unusual tiredness are all potential warning signs of an underlying respiratory issue.
Is general ventilation enough to protect against airborne pollutants?
Not always. While general ventilation helps, targeted extraction at the source is far more effective.
Are air purifiers the same as extraction systems?
No, air purifiers filter the air after particles have spread, while extraction systems remove pollutants at the source before they disperse into the environment.
