The National Institute of Health reports that over 60 million workers across the globe are exposed to wood dust in the workplace. This can result in various occupational respiratory illnesses such as
silicosis and asthma.

• According to World Wide Fund (WWF), 15 billion trees are cut down every year worldwide
• Wood dust is one of the leading causes of occupational asthma in the UK, which in turn is responsible for 10-20% of all cases of adult asthma according to Health Research Authority
• The National Institute of Health reports that 62 million workers (2% of the global workforce) are occupationally exposed to wood dust

• Hardwood dust
• Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)
• Sawdust
• Softwood dust

• Formaldehyde
• Volatile Organic Compounds

• Chipping wood
• Chiselling wood
• Cutting wood
• Sanding wood
• Sawing wood
• Settled dust being disturbed

• Finishing wood products
• Painting wood
• Polishing wood
• Restoring wood
• Smoke from charcoal production

Environmental Compliance Limited (ECL) reports approximately 100,000 people working in the UK Baking Industry encounter flour dust exposure on a daily basis. Find out how certain processes in food production puts thousands of people at risk.

• The food and drink sector in Great Britain (GB) employ over 3.8 million people according to GOV UK
• The Healthscreen UK report every year, in the food and drink manufacture industry, around 19,000 workers (nearly 5% of the workforce) suffer from ill health caused or made worse by work
• Environmental Compliance Limited (ECL) reports approximately 100,000 people working in the UK Baking Industry encounter flour dust exposure on a daily basis
     

• Flour dust
• Grain dust
• Malt dust
• Sugar dust
• Wood dust

• Ammonia
• Antioxidants
• Chlorine
• Food additives
• Sulphur Dioxide

• Baking
• Blending ingredients
• Drying + using processing
• Milling ingredients
• Packaging raw ingredients
• Transfer of food + goods
• Use of dry spices

• Adding preservatives
• Food colouring
• Refrigeration plants
• Thermal treatment of foodstuff
• Using aerosols
• Using cleaning products

International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) determines fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service worldwide, with one example being exposure to soot dust when firefighting.

• IAFF determines occupational cancer for fire fighters is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service worldwide

• Instances of cancer among fire fighters aged 35-39 is up to 323% higher than in the general population in the same age category in the UK according to the University of Lancashire

• The National Institute of Health for USA determines firefighters are at least 2 x likely to be diagnosed with cancer if they notice soot in their nose/throat or remained in their personal protective equipment (PPE)  for more than 4 hours after attending a fire

• Arsenic dusts
• General particulates
• Soot dust
• Wood dust

• Carbon Dioxide
• Hydrogen Chloride
• Methane
• Nitrogen Oxide
• Sulphur Dioxide

• Particulates on firefighter gear
• Fire residue
• Soot generated from fires
• Wildfires

• Exposure to open fires
• Firefighting foam (PFAS)
• Gas leaks
• Wildfires

3.5% of global manufacturing employment are employed in assembly and manufacturing of electronics hardware according to International Labour Organisation (ILO). See which manufacturing processes cause exposure to various fumes and particulates. 

• The ILO approximates that 17.4 million workers were employed in the manufacture and assembly of electronics hardware in 2023, which comprised almost 3.5% of global manufacturing employment

• According to ScienceDirect, metallurgical and manufacturing sectors are the primary source of Cadmium exposure, affecting approximately 600 million people annually through contaminated environments

• Metal fumes
• Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)
• Soldering fumes

• Ammonia
• Chlorine
• Cadmium fumes
• Lead fumes
• Mercury fumes

• Manufacturing PCBs
• Processing natural materials
• Soldering parts

• Creating environments for components
• Manufacturing chips
• Processing natural materials

Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that approximately 1.85 million workers are currently exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) in US construction workplaces. This, along with other risks such as gas exposure can come about due to certain processes and conditions in construction and building environments.

• International Labour Organisation (ILO)  estimates that 220 million people work globally in construction
•  The UN Environment Programme claims the construction sector is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for a staggering 37% of global emissions
  
• According to UK Parliament, 25% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the building environment
• OSHA estimates that approximately 1.85 million workers are currently exposed to RCS in US construction workplaces
• Every year, an estimated 600,000 workers are exposed to silica in the UK according to British Safety Council

• Construction dust
• Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions (DEEE)
• RCS
• Wood dust

• Diesel + petrol leaks
• Flammable gases
• Lead, pigments + catalysts
• Solvents
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• Chasing concrete
• Cutting paving blocks + tiles
• Dry cutting + sweeping
• Sanding + polishing wood
• Scrabbling + grinding concrete
• Use of construction vehicles

• Cutting into natural materials
• Mixing chemicals for materials
• Use of construction vehicles
• Welding + soldering materials
• Confined space access

Globally 2 million lives were lost to select chemicals in 2019 according to the World Health Organisation. In pharmaceutical and similar industries where you’re handling chemicals and raw materials, exposure to toxic and flammable gases and particulates can be deadly.

• According to ‘Unite the Union’, the chemical and pharmaceutical sector employs 600,000 people in the UK 
• 2 million lives worldwide were lost to select chemicals in 2019 according to WHO
• WHO’ also reports 53 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were lost in 2019 from exposure to selected chemicals worldwide
  
  
• Unintentional poisonings are estimated to cause 193,000 deaths annually reported by the ‘WHO’

• General dust
• Silica dust
• Rubber dust

• Carbon Monoxide
• Flammable gases
• Toxic gases
• Formaldehyde

• Filling raw ingredients
• Handling raw ingredients
• Mixing raw ingredients
• Packaging pharmaceuticals
• Transporting crops
• Grinding pipes during replacement
• Welding pipes during replacement

• Cooling + freezing
• Filling raw ingredients
• Handling raw ingredients
• Mixing raw ingredients
• Use of hazardous pesticides
• Process controls
• Sterility processes

There are 2.4 million direct manufacturing jobs in the automotive industry in the EU according to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), meaning over 2 million people in the EU are exposed to hazardous particulates and flammable gases.

• Over 800,000 automotive workers UK, according to UK Parliament
• 2.4 million direct manufacturing jobs in the EU according to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
• ACEA reports 93.9 million motor vehicles are produced globally every year

• Asbestos
• Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)
• Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions (DEEE)

• Carbon Monoxide
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Toxic gases
• Flammable gases
• Diesel + petrol leaks
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• Metal work cutting fluid
• Grinding
• Sanding
• Welding
• Friction sparks

• Paint fumes
• Grinding Cleaning supplies
• Use of diesel + petrol vehicles

170,000 agricultural workers die each year due to their occupational activity. And millions suffer from occupational health problems
according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

See the common hazards workers are exposed to and how they’re generated in agriculture.

• The ILO reports the agricultural industry employs 1 billion workers worldwide. This is about 1/3 of the world’s labour force according to the ILO
• 170,000 agricultural workers die due to their occupational activity, and millions suffer from occupational health problems each year according to the ILO
• ILO reports that 40,000 deaths in Agriculture worldwide are due to pesticide poisoning 
• 40% of farmers were exposed to concentrations of inhalable particles greater than the workplace exposure level according to SafeWork Australia

• Silica
• Animal hair
• Bacterial residue
• Grain
• Mould/Fungal
• Straw

• Ammonia
• Animal emissions
• Carbon Dioxide
• Hydrogen Sulphide
• Methane
• Pesticide residue
• Toxic gases

• Welding
• Cleaning silos + sheds
• Exposure to livestock
• Exposure to poultry
• Harvesting crops
• Transporting crops

• Welding
• Animal waste + sewage
• Exposure to livestock
• Exposure to poultry
• Lack of ventilation
• Use of hazardous pesticides