Tips for Recognising Breathing Hazards Eye irritation. If your eyes are itchy or stinging there is a good chance that there is something in the air causing it. Caution - you can't always smell what is making your lungs react, but smelling chemicals, dusts, fumes or particulates is a good indication that there may be something harmful in the air. Visible dust clouds or fumes. This often means your workplace is poorly ventilated.
Chemical spills can often cause injuries and illness.
The MSDS includes first aid information for use in case of an emergency. If there is a problem with you and your fellow workers breathing irritants, your safety and health representative or employer should be told. In many cases there are easy methods to reduce any problems with air quality at work. You can also seek advice from your union or the government department in your state that is responsible for occupational safety and health. Despite vastly improved treatments over the past 10 to 15 years, asthma has increased seriously in both incidence and severity.