Abstract

Occupational asthma is a common occupational disease in Québec. According to the statistics provided by the CSST’s medical branch, 50 to 60 new cases of occupational asthma are recognized annually by this organization. In Québec, this disease must be diagnosed objectively, contrary to several countries where this diagnosis is established by questionnaire.
There is only one diagnostic centre in Québec: the one at Sacré-Coeur Hospital, in Montréal. Laval Hospital, in Québec City, wants to acquire the diagnostic systems developed by the IRSST in collaboration with Sacré-Coeur Hospital, because they provide safer and more scientific diagnoses and prevent the exposure of personnel making the diagnoses.