WEBINAR | Breathing Easy: Examining Asthma at Work

To receive CME* or CNE credit after viewing this webinar, you must:

• Complete the Participant Evaluation associated with this webinar
• Send an email with your first and last name stating which webinar you completed to contedu@migrantclinician.org

Ricardo is a 35 year old man from Oaxaca, Mexico who mixes flour and other ingredients to make pizza at a local restaurant. In the last five years he has experienced progressive wheezing, cough and shortness of breath at work. Laboratory testing suggests new-onset asthma caused by flour dust. Ricardo is unable to return to his job and has filed for workers compensation.

This is an important issue for all workers, but especially for vulnerable workers who may work in industries with conditions that exacerbate asthma symptoms. This includes janitorial workers, farmworkers, and those working in meat processing plants. An estimated 40% of adults with asthma report that work has caused or aggravated the condition, yet only 28% have discussed their concerns about work with their doctor. Health care providers should be aware of the approaches to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this condition. This interactive webinar will use case studies to discuss the link between work and asthma. It will also equip clinicians with the tools necessary to identify and manage work-related asthma with a particular emphasis on vulnerable workers and strategies for mitigating their unique challenges.

1. Understand the link between asthma and the work environment
2. Identify strategies for recognizing and managing work-related asthma
3. Familiarize yourself with the clinical resources related to work-related asthma

• OSHA Fact Sheet. Do You Have Work-Related Asthma?A Guide for YOU and YOUR DOCTOR
  https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3707.pdf
  American Thoracic Society Documents An Official American Thoracic Society Statement: Work-Exacerbated Asthma
  https://www.thoracic.org/statements/resources/eold/an-official-ats-statement-work-exacerbated-asthma.pdf
  Diagnosis and Management of Work-Related Asthma:
  American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement 
  http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1044851
  Industries and Asthmagens Associated with Work-Related Asthma http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/survweb/wra/documents/asthmagens.pdf
  OSH Answers Fact Sheets- Work Related Asthma http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html
  OSHA Fact Sheet. Do You Have Work-Related Asthma?A Guide for YOU and YOUR DOCTOR: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3707.pdf
• American Thoracic Society Documents An Official American Thoracic Society Statement: Work-Exacerbated Asthma: https://www.thoracic.org/statements/resources/eold/an-official-ats-statement-work-exacerbated-asthma.pdf
• Diagnosis and Management of Work-Related Asthma:American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement: http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1044851
• Industries and Asthmagens Associated with Work-Related Asthma: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/survweb/wra/documents/asthmagens.pdf
• OSH Answers Fact Sheets- Work Related Asthma: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html
• Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC): http://www.aoec.org