[Jewelry making - Article 00179] - Re: [Orchid] Headaches in smaller working areas?

[Kevin]

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    The particular circumstances of a given case can dictate the best
    response, but in general providing personal protective wear (a
    respirator in this case) should be regarded as the very last final
    fall back solution, for use when all else has failed.  In some
    countries this is enshrined in law, though that applies only for
    workplaces and not in a strictly hobby type situation. 

    Again, being very general, things to look at first would be to
    identify the cause of the problem and try to eliminate it by using a
    different process or substituting a different material.  If that
    can't be done then look to keep the offending material away from the
    worker.  An extraction fan or hood as you suggest may be one way to
    do this.  Be especially carefull that an open fan cannot just
    circulate stuff around, and make sure that anything being sucked away
    from a work area doesn't pass through the breathing area on its way
    to the outside.  Again, in workplace situations there may be legal
    stuff associated with the design and maintenance of extraction
    equipment.  Personal protective equipment should always be the final
    recourse, and, yes, in a workplace situation there may be legal
    points to consider. 

    A few final thoughts....  atmospheric pollution (which is what you
    are hinting at here) might well aggravate asthma, and might lower
    resistance to infection, but it doesn't _cause_ sinus infection, so
    some medical intervention may be needed. 

    I wonder if it could be as simple as lack of ventillation, or more
    dangerously carbon monoxide poisoning, from the lamp working?  Does
    she have a carbon monoxide monitor/alarm in the area? 

    Final thoughts, on respirators.  I take it she is using something
    more than a simple paper dust mask?  Respirators with a replaceable
    filter take quite a bit of effort to draw air in and out, and can
    actually be very tiring over prolongued periods, which doesn't sound
    like a good thing for someone with asthma.  And always make sure the
    filter is really what is required in the particular case, and take
    special note of the effective lifetime of the filter cartridge, in
    some cases it can be less than a normal work shift. 

Kevin  (NW England, UK)

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