The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently given an update of its investigation into the outbreak of occupational lung disease at the Powertrain Limited plant in Longbridge, Birmingham. The HSE's investigation began in March 2004 at the request of the Birmingham Chest Clinic (BCC).
The main diseases diagnosed are occupational asthma (87 cases) and extrinsic allergic alveolitis (24 cases). Occupational asthma can cause attacks of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath, whilst extrinsic allergic alveolitis can cause coughing, breathlessness, chills, sweats and joint pain, which may feel like a bout of flu. There may also be weight loss and breathing difficulty which can be long term.
HSE served three Improvement Notices on Powertrain Ltd in 2004 as soon as the scale of the outbreak became apparent. Powertrain workers diagnosed with lung disease recalled the onset of their breathlessness from 2002 onwards, whereas some recalled breathlessness in previous years. The onset of breathlessness peaked in March 2003, and the last date of onset was in June 2004.
The notices were complied with which required Powertrain to take action in line with the increased risk. Powertrain went into administration in 2005 with assets sold to Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation and removed to China.
The guidance which has been developed with the help of experts both within and outside HSE and in conjunction with other stakeholders, makes it clear that:
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risk assessments must deal with the risks of occupational asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis;
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direct means of monitoring bacterial contamination in metalworking and wash fluids, such as dip slides, must be used;
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exposure to mist needs to be prevented or better controlled;
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health surveillance must be carried out where there is exposure to mist.
Sandra Caldwell, Director of HSE's Field Operations said:
"The outbreak at Powertrain is thought to be both the world's largest linked to metal working fluids, and the largest single outbreak of occupational asthma. It has changed the perception of the risk arising from the exposure to mist from metalworking in the UK. HSE is making available the lessons learned from the outbreak and has taken action to prevent a recurrence. HSE is determined that workers elsewhere in this sector should get better protection against contracting these diseases, which have the potential to seriously impair the breathing and health of those affected by them.
"The HSE investigation has been long and thorough, and we now know that the cause of the disease was mist from metalworking machines, which was widespread throughout the factory. While we do not know the precise agent within the mist that triggered the outbreak, we did find links to bacteria, and used metalworking fluid. Other possible causes, such as metals leaching into the mist from the machining and washing of components, have been closely investigated and are thought unlikely to have caused the outbreak."
The HSE are also checking the standards of small and large organisations where conditions have been variable. Improvement notices have been issued where necessary. A series of roadshows aimed at smaller organisations will be organised over the next two years in conjunction with the United Kingdom Lubricants Association Metalworking Fluids Product Stewardship Group (UKLAMWPSG). The HSE will also carry out follow up visits to those organisations who do not attend the roadshows in order to ensure that the messages are getting through.
A questionnaire to help firms check that they are properly assessing risks is available by clicking the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/metalworking/questionnaire.pdf
The HSE report can be found by clicking the following link: Outbreak of Respiratory Disease at Powertrain Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham - Emerging Lessons
The HSE's metalworking website can be found by clicking the following link: Metalworking Fluids
