Abstract

Every year, the Center for Asthma in the Workplace finances teams of researchers to carry out pilot studies on occupational asthma. This is how the IRSST came to participate in one of these studies on students in carpentry/joinery, plastering and plumbing/heating. The study involved investigating the use of sensitizing agents or conditions likely to exacerbate latent symptoms of asthma in their training environment. To estimate the learners’ exposure, the author used the approach prescribed by the prediction model of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for a control level corresponding to the worst exposure scenario. The finding was that learners may be exposed to several sensitizing or irritant substances at more or less high concentrations, depending on the step in the task performed. Contrary to what happens in the workplace, no task lasted eight hours. The use of the products was intermittent and could extend over several days. Among the recommendations made, the author believes that engineering controls should be implemented, the product substitution approach pursued, and a respiratory protection program developed. Moreover, a similar approach should be considered for the wearing of other protective equipment.