Spirometry Testing

Spirometry testing (a form of pulmonary lung function testing) is performed to help measure lung health and breathing capability in those exposed to respirable hazards. It is performed by using a spirometer, a special device that registers the amount of air a subject inhales or exhales and the rate at which the air is moved into or out of the lungs. The results can play a vital role in decisions about worker job assignments and personal protective equipment, and in the assessment of exposure-related health effects. When part or an employer’s respiratory surveillance program, a worker will participate in baseline and periodic spirometry testing.

Workers face a range of workplace substances that may result in breathing problems or lung damage. Common workplace respiratory exposures include:

• Silica dust produced from construction-related activities including bricklaying, demolition, rock drilling, and mining

• Coal Dust for the workers involved in mining coal used for power generation purposes

• Coke oven emissions for workers in aluminum, steel, graphite, electrical, and construction industries

• Isocyanates which are widely used in foams, fibres, and coatings such as paints and varnishes used in the automobile industry and as insulation materials

• Asbestos, which was widely used as an insulator during construction activities