Cold workplace makes my asthma worse

Legacy_user

I work in a place where its cold. It should be heated but the heating keeps breaking down, even with new heating system it still breaks down. One day earlier this month, it was so cold inside where I could see my own breath!

My chest is always tight and need to carry my Ventolin inhaler on me. I never have the tight chest outside work. Plus there is always a colleague off sick with chest infections. They blame the cold working conditions. I doubt they caught it from any of the sick colleagues as they work different depts and days. I work full time, but many are part time and don't see some colleagues at all.

I also been told by 2 colleagues that they have been diagnosed with asthma in their 40s in the past 2 months.

Now I am having to take Qvar twice a day because of my asthma has worsened. I always wear leggings, a vest and a t-shirt under my uniform Anything else above the uniform is banned. Plus we have been banned to take hot drinks (with a lid) to our work area. We don't know why but that did help.

I have my annual asthma 'MOT' next week at my GP.

What can my employer do to prevent my asthma going any worse? Plus I live in England, and have to pay for my inhalers as asthmatics don't get any help. I think they will be in serious trouble if any asthmatic as an attack and the medical staff blame the working conditions.

fruitedeli

Don't bother with the vest and t-shirt. Get yourself a thermal/insulated vest and it's more than enough, providing you have uniform on top to block the wind.

pmlindyloo

This link might help:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/raising-your-concern.htm

Tiddlywinks

Ask for a referral to Occupational Health and ask your GP for advice about whether the cold might be an issue for your asthma.

BTW - the cold won't be causing your colleague's chest infection... nor does it cause the common cold (contrary to the old wives' tale).

poppellerant

Buy a digital thermometer and record the temperatures. I'm guessing you work in an office, therefore don't they have to be heated to a minimum temperature by law?

dandelionclock30

Merino wool thermal base layers, you will never experience the cold again full stop.

Tiddlywinks

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Merino wool thermal base layers, you will never experience the cold again full stop.

Whilst I agree that there are ways to keep warm for MOST people, we should be careful not to generalise... or assume that we know about what someone else needs regarding their own health condition.

Base layers won't help with the breathing in of cold air... for that you'd need a filter over the mouth (like a scarf). Nor will base layers necessarily help for other conditions such as Raynaud's.

iclayt

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Base layers won't help with the breathing in of cold air... for that you'd need a filter over the mouth (like a scarf).

Yes, exactly the issue. It's not just a case of donning a thermal vest - inhaling cold air is a trigger for asthma and it's that which needs addressing.

I wish I could offer some constructive help, only that even when I was on JSA and I told the JCP advisor I had asthma they asked if that meant any restrictions on where I worked, ie hot or cold conditions, both of which are out for me unless I want to start wheezing. So even the Jobcentre accepted this and I wasn't expected to apply for any jobs in the factories etc (phew!).

What can my employer do to prevent my asthma going any worse?

Provide standalone heaters for when the heating packs in? I think it would help knowing exactly where you work. If you have a medical condition exacerbated by the cold, and they could feasibly fix the heating properly, I'd be interested to hear why that's not possible for them. I think you should get a letter/note from your doctor confirming that the cold air is making your existing medical condition worse, present it to them, and see what they say. What else can you do?

lisyloo

I feel the cold.
My office manager provided me with an oil filled radiator that is under my desk.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

being a sever brittle asthmatic, I sympathize with you.


having something covering the mouth like scarf or breathing mask can feel restrictive in your breathing, I find it difficult to wear a scar or anything covering my mouth as it sets my asthma off.


Your GP should refer you to a OC'health therapist, you should also see your consultant or be referred at the hospital more if if your asthma is worsening.


You should be raising a working enviroment issue with you manager or HR and assuming they took you on with the knowledge of you having asthma you should raise the issue of the working environment relating to your decline in health.


don't do this verbally do it via a letter to manager keep a copy just to ensure you have a paper trail of your complaints.

dickydonkin

I also been told by 2 colleagues that they have been diagnosed with asthma in their 40s in the past 2 months.

I just wonder if there is something in your workplace that is causing the problem. The cold conditions may not be causing the problem but it could be exacerbating it.

You may get more assistance if you could disclose what type of workplace you are in.