There are approximately 14, 000 reported cases altogether, concerning lung and breathing issues, due to potential poor working conditions. EMADA will work alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to strive towards making these conditions better, and in turn reducing the risks of respiratory issues.

Sarah Mallagh, the head of health and chemicals unit at HSE, comments: “We need to inform, instill and even enforce the message that ‘control at-source’ through effective Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems are the best-practice solution to a healthier workplace.

“We can appreciate that the HSE isn’t always the best vehicle for delivering this message, so building a relationship with EMADA, the wider industry and creating priorities and stimulating activity among industry is a new strategy to tackling occupational lung disease.”

To launch the new strategy, EMADA hosted an event at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. Chairman Paul Rowlands comments: “By forming this association, we are creating a conduit between the industry experts and the HSE. There is already a good level or good level of regulation and guidance from the HSE, but there remain opportunities for improvement in many systems and their application. Lung latency is a ‘long term’ workplace accident and EMADA is taking a moral imperative to push best practice to industry.”

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