Abstract

For some fifteen years, the IRSST’s researchers, in collaboration with Sacré-Coeur Hospital’s physician researchers, have been developing exposure systems for diagnosing occupational asthma. These systems allow a safer and more scientific exposure of workers, and avoid exposure of the personnel responsible for the diagnosis. Sacré-Coeur Hospital has three exposure systems for its occupational asthma activities. The IRSST also has three that are used for method development and the calibration and verification of direct reading instruments.
These systems must be updated. Their computers must be replaced, which will require the changing of interfaces and the adaptation of control software.
The first step will involve a complete adaptation of one of the IRSST’s systems. Once completed, the work carried out on a pilot system will be transposed to the other systems. With this equipment improvement and development, instrument performance will be improved.
At the same time, this work will result in the development of expertise in control and in the remote transmission of scientific data which can be used in other IRSST activities. It will also allow Sacré-Coeur Hospital to maintain its leading-edge expertise in the field of occupational asthma.