137a - Breathe freely initiative to prevent occupational lung disease – Canadian and US rollout

Breathe Freely is a British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) initiative aimed at reducing occupational lung disease in the UK, which causes significant debilitating ill-health and an estimated 13,000 deaths per year in the UK. Breathe Freely is about raising awareness of both the problem and how to do something about it: we can protect workers’ health and prevent most of these diseases and deaths. It is not just “the right thing to do”, it is good for business as well. Broad acceptance of this fundamental concept is part of the solution. Thanks to the support and collaboration of the BOHS, both the AIHA construction committee (US) and CRBOH (Canada) have taken steps to introduce Breathe Freely in their respective countries. This session will delve into the core objectives of Breathe Freely and provide updates on its implementation progress in Canada and the United States.