Spirometry Testing

Spirometry is a breathing test that measures lung function. It tests how much and how fast you can move air into and out of your lungs.  It is the most common type of pulmonary function testing.  After analyzing, and including factors such as, age, weight, sex, race and smoking status, a spirometry test is able to determine whether or not a persons lung capacity falls within a normal range.  Often, spirometry tests are administered in conjunction with mask fit testing, to ensure an employee's lung health.

Who Should Do Spirometry Testing?

 Many substances found in the workplace can cause breathing problems or lung damage. Some of them are as follows:
 

• Dust from such things as wood, cotton, coal, asbestos, silica and talc. Dust from cereal grains, coffee, pesticides, drug or enzyme powders, metals and fiberglass can also hurt your lungs.
   
• Fumes from metals that are heated and cooled quickly. This process results in fine, solid particles being carried in the air. Examples of jobs that involve exposure to fumes from metals and other substances that are heated and cooled quickly include welding, smelting, furnace work, pottery making, plastics manufacture and rubber operations.
   
• Smoke from burning organic materials. Smoke can contain a variety of particles, gases and vapors, depending on what substance is being burned. Firefighters are at an increased risk.
   
• Gases such as formaldehyde, ammonia, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, ozone and nitrogen oxides. These are associated with jobs where chemical reactions occur and in jobs with high heat operations, such as welding, brazing, smelting, oven drying and furnace work.
   
• Vapors, which are a form of gas given off by all liquids. Vapors, such as those given off by solvents, usually irritate the nose and throat first, before they affect the lungs.
   
• Mists or sprays from paints, lacquers (such as varnish), hair spray, pesticides, cleaning products, acids, oils and solvents (such as turpentine).

Workers who are exposed to these substances should submit to spirometry testing in order to monitor their lung health.
 

Laws and Regulations

According to the Alberta OHS act, section 4 part 40, any worker that is exposed to asbestos, silica, or coal dust must apply to section 40, which involves spirometry testing. 

As well, the Alberta Workers Compensation Board's "Alberta Permanent Clinical Impairment Guide" states that "where a worker suffers chest disease due in part to occupational and in part to non-occupational factors, the overall disability will be presumed to be related to the employment and compensation awarded accordingly."
 
Because of this, SureHire suggests that any company who exposes workers to any type of airborne hazards/chemicals/dust, should do spirometry testing pre-employment and yearly to maintain accurate records for their workers to see if their way of managing their airborne hazard is working.

If you have any questions about what spirometry testing is, or what's involved in the process call 1-866-944-HIRE or email us.