FactSheet

Do You Have Work-Related Asthma?

A Guide for YOU and YOUR DOCTOR

Do you have any of these symptoms: cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness 

of breath, or chest tightness? If the answer is YES, you may have work-related asthma.

What Is Work-Related Asthma? 

Work-related asthma is a lung disease caused or 

made worse by exposures to substances in the 

workplace. Common exposures include chemicals, 

dust, mold, animals, and plants. Exposure can 

occur from both inhalation (breathing) and skin 

contact. Asthma symptoms may start at work or 

within several hours after leaving work and may 

occur with no clear pattern. People who never 

had asthma can develop asthma due to workplace 

exposures. People who have had asthma for 

years may find that their condition worsens due to 

workplace exposures. Both of these situations are 

considered work-related asthma.

A group of chemicals called isocyanates are one of 

the most common chemical causes of work-related 

asthma. OSHA is working to reduce exposures to 

isocyanates and has identified their use in numerous 

workplaces. See table below for common products 

(both at home and work) and common jobs where 

exposure to isocyanates may occur.

Why You Should Care About 

Work-Related Asthma

Work-related asthma may result in long-term lung 

damage, loss of work days, disability, or even 

death. The good news is that early diagnosis and 

treatment of work-related asthma can lead to a 

better health outcome. 

What To Do If You Think You Have 

Work-Related Asthma

If you think that you may have work-related asthma, see 

your doctor as soon as possible. Take this information 

and a copy of the safety data sheet with you. 

Work-Related Asthma Quick Facts

•	 Work-related asthma can develop over ANY 

period of time (days to years). 

•	 Work-related asthma may occur with changes in 

work exposures, jobs, or processes.

•	 It is possible to develop work-related asthma even 

if your workplace has protective equipment, such 

as exhaust ventilation or respirators.

•	 Work-related asthma can continue to cause 

symptoms even when the exposure stops.

•	 Before working with isocyanates or any other 

asthma-causing substances, ask your employer 

for training, as required under OSHA’s Hazard 

Communication standard.

Helpful Resources for Workers

•	 If you have a workplace health and safety 

question contact the Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (OSHA) at 1-800-321-OSHA 

(6742) or go to OSHA’s Workers web page at 

www.osha.gov/workers.html.

•	 Additional information on worker protection 

from isocyanates can be found on OSHA’s 

Isocyanates Safety and Health Topics page: 

www.osha.gov/SLTC/isocyanates. 

Products and Jobs Where Exposure to Isocyanates May Occur

Common Products* Common Jobs and Job Processes*

•	 Polyurethane foam •	 Car manufacture and repair •	 Foundry work (casting)

•	 Paints, lacquers, ink, varnishes,

sealants, finishes

•	 Building construction

(plaster, insulation)

•	 Textile, rubber and plastic

manufacturing

•	 Insulation materials •	 Foam blowing and cutting •	 Printing

•	 Polyurethane rubber •	 Painting •	 Furniture manufacturing

•	 Glues and adhesives •	 Truck bed liner application •	 Electric cable insulation

*Many more jobs and products may also cause work-related asthma.

For Clinicians: Steps to Diagnose Work-Related Asthma ➨
Diagnosis of Work-Related Asthma: A Guide for Clinicians

1. Consider work-related asthma in ALL adults with 

new-onset asthma or aggravation of previously 

controlled asthma. 

2. Obtain a detailed medical history that documents 

the patient’s asthma symptoms, allergies, and 

the relationship of the symptoms to work (onset, 

timing, severity).

Key Questions:

•	 Do your symptoms change when you are away 

from work (evenings, weekends, vacation)?

•	 Did you have any unusual exposures or 

changes in your job processes prior to the 

onset of symptoms?

•	 Do you have any allergy symptoms, such as 

runny nose, nasal congestion, or itchy, watery 

eyes? Are these symptoms worse at work? 

3. Document a history of occupational exposures.

•	 An electronic occupational history exposure 

form can be found at: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/

exphistory/docs/CSEMExposHist-26-29.pdf.

•	 An occupational exposures database can be 

found at: www.aoecdata.org/Default.aspx.

•	 You or your patient may also request a safety data 

sheet (SDS, formerly MSDS) for chemicals in the 

workplace from your patient’s employer, as per the 

OSHA Hazard Communication standard, 29 CFR 

1910.1200: www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.

show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10099.

4. Perform pulmonary function testing (PFT) in accord 

with American Thoracic Society Standards.

•	 Spirometry AND peak expiratory flow rates 

(PEFRs) may assist with diagnosis.

•	 For strategies on using spirometry or peak flow 

to diagnose work-related asthma, consult 2008 

American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) 

Consensus Statement (referenced below).

•	 A normal spirometry result does NOT exclude the 

possibility of work-related asthma.

•	 OSHA publications and guidance for 

healthcare professionals on spirometry: 

www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.

athruz?pType=Industry&pID=278.

5. Consider referral to an occupational medicine, 

pulmonary and/or allergy specialist for supplemental 

testing and assistance with determining workrelatedness, reducing exposures and protecting the 

worker’s employment status.

•	 To find an occupational and environmental 

medicine physician or clinic, visit: 

− American College of Occupational and 

Environmental Medicine: www.acoem.org

− Association of Occupational and 

Environmental Clinics: www.aoec.org

Helpful Resources for Clinicians

•	 Tarlo, Susan M., et al. “Diagnosis and 

Management of Work-Related Asthma: 

American College of Chest Physicians’ 

Consensus Statement.” CHEST Journal 134.3_

suppl (2008):1S-41S. (includes a work-related 

asthma diagnosis and management algorithm)

•	 OSHA Clinicians’ web page: www.osha.gov/dts/

oom/clinicians

•	 OSHA Occupational Asthma web page: 

www.osha.gov/SLTC/occupationalasthma

•	 NIOSH Occupational Respiratory Disease 

Surveillance – State-Based Surveillance Programs 

for CA, CT, MA, MI, NJ, NM, NY, OR, TX, WA, WI: 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/surveillance/ords/

StateBasedSurveillance/stateprograms.html

(For work-related asthma reporting in other states, 

contact your local health or labor department.) 

•	 NIOSH Asthma and Allergies web page: 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/asthma

This guidance document is advisory in nature and informational in

content. It is not a standard or regulation, and it neither creates new

legal obligations nor alters existing obligations created by OSHA

standards or the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Pursuant

to the OSH Act, employers must comply with safety and health standards

and regulations issued and enforced either by OSHA or by an OSHAapproved State Plan (a list of State Plans is available at www.osha.gov/

dcsp/osp). In addition, the Act’s General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1),

requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free

from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

The mention of any nongovernmental organization or link to its web site

in this guidance document does not constitute an endorsement by OSHA

of that organization or its products, services, or web site.

DTSEM FS-3707 03/2014

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. For a 

comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The 

voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.