LUNG HEALTH

Lung Health Monitoring

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Lung health monitoring is a critical component of occupational health and safety, specifically on worksites where exposure to hazardous particulates (such as asbestos, silica or coal dust) may occur through inhalation. It can help you identify both existing respiratory conditions and the development of new conditions.

Common Hazards

Asbestos

Asbestos refers to 6 naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have the ability to resist heat, fire, and electricity. Although asbestos fibres are microscopic, they are extremely durable and resistant to fire and most chemical reactions and breakdowns. These properties of asbestos supported its use for many years in a number of different commercial and industrial settings, as well as in a wide range of consumer products.

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious lung conditions that often take a long time to develop but, once diagnosed, can be deadly. Early detection is crucial for mitigating the risk of damage to the lung health of your workers, which can affect their overall quality of life.

Coal Dust

Coal dust is a mixture that contains more than 50 substances produced during the mining and handling of coal. Coal is a combustible material made from decayed plant matter that has been compressed by rock formations over a long period of time and is the most abundant of the fossil fuels. Rank relates to the geological age of the coal. The major types of coals, in order of the lowest to the highest rank, are: (1) Lignite, (2) Sub-Bituminous, (3) Bituminous (most common), and (4) Anthtacite.

The most commonly found minerals in coal dust include kaolinite, illite, calcite, pyrite, and quartz (silica). Exposure to coal dust can result in a serious disease commonly known as “Black Lung”. Black Lung includes Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP), bronchitis, emphysema, and silicosis as a result of working in coal mines.

Silica

Silica has been linked to respiratory cancers in humans as well as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Hazardous exposure in the workplace can occur when silica found in sand, quartz, and granite becomes airborne as dust. Silica becomes airborne as dust from activities such as:

Demolition of brick, concrete or masonry
Chipping, hammering, grinding, sawing, and drilling in concrete, brick or rock
Abrasive blasting using sand or from material being blasted such as concrete
Trenching or excavating
Proppant for hydraulic fracturing

FAQs

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious lung conditions that often take a long time to develop but, once diagnosed, can be deadly. Asbestos can cause the following conditions:

Mesothelioma
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestosis
Pleural thickening

You can protect yourself by ensuring that you receive the proper training. In many provinces, each worker must undergo a certificate course through an accredited agency. Each worker must also ensure that they are wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) including respiratory protective equipment appropriate for asbestos exposure. Talk to your employer if you have any questions or concerns.

Our
Delivery
Methods

We offer flexible testing solutions designed to fit your organization’s unique needs. With multiple options available, you can choose the approach that works best for your business and your workforce, making the process simple, efficient, and convenient.