Soot

[joreedy]

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with COPD. I am 47yrs old and gave up smoking 5yrs ago. I have been on the Ecigs since. 10 Months ago we had a fire at work. It has taken 10months to get the factory going but the office area still has not been fixed. There is still soot falling from the roof on a daily basis as I wipe my desk and keyboard every morning. We have also been with out aircons for the last couple of months due to the weather. There is also no ventilation in the office. Any advice if Soot can cause COPD would be greatly appreciated as I feel now that this could be a work cover issue

[greatauntali]

I do not know if soot can cause COPD ( although I suspect that it does ) but I do know that it aggravates the condition.

This is a health and safety issue in my opinion and is not acceptable.

[sassy59]

Welcome to you and perhaps you could speak to your doctor or even CAB and see if they can help.

Good luck and take care xxxx

[stone-UK]

Hi

Any ingress of foreign material is not good for the lungs.

I'am surprised the office was not environmentally cleaned after the fire, there's no telling what nasty chemicals where released after such a incident.

[Ergendl]

I am sure that my COPD was partly caused by using solid fuel stoves for many years - I had to hoover them out every two to four weeks, and sometimes they would blow back. People in countries where cooking over an open fire in their home or hut is the norm, also have a much reduced life expectancy through lung disease. Do raise the soot at your work as a danger to health, as others have suggested.

[Hidden]

Is your employer aware of your copd? If so they have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to safeguard the health of their employees. Do you find that the soot brings on a SOB attack? If so make your employer aware of this and they should doing something.

[hallentine47]

As a severe COPD/Emphysema sufferer of many years my only advice is remove yourself from this very dangerous environment and refuse to return until it can be proved that the environment has been made safe and clean.

[Dragonmum]

This is one for Health and Safety; ask your employer to do something about it, if he doesn't then take the necessary steps. If you have a Union Rep inform the Union too

[girliegirl2012]

I believe if it were me, I would purchase an air purifier for my office. Once all is well, I'd take my air purifier home. At least you would be protecting yourself and your lungs. Just an idea.