Workplace exposure

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Knowing which type of respirator to use – and how use it properly – is crucial to protecting chimney sweeps from exposure to airborne hazards, NIOSH says in a fact sheet.

Also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, black lung is a “job-related disease caused by continued exposure to excessive amounts of respirable coal mine dust,” NIOSH says.

Workers who are at risk of exposure include poultry and livestock farmers and workers, as well as slaughterhouse workers.

“Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of harmful chemicals and particles,” the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries says. “This smoke can make anyone sick, even healthy individuals.”

Washington — In light of reports of avian flu in dairy cattle and “a small number of workers exposed to infected animals,” OSHA has issued a hazard alert.

Pregnancy increases the risk of heatstroke or heat exhaustion on the job because the body must work harder to cool itself, according to OSHA. Pregnant workers are also more likely to become dehydrated, “a primary contributor to heat-related illness.”

Proper hydration is essential for preventing heat-related illnesses.

Miners who work in cold temperatures are at risk for cold stress, which may trigger hypothermia, frostbite, and other injuries and illnesses.

Many workers have been diagnosed with some form of lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which means working in a lung-friendly workplace is key.

Working outdoors already involves many hazards. Add cold temperatures during the winter months, and the number of risks grows.