At the sports centre

This information is for people that work in leisure centres, such as lifeguards, gym staff and cleaners. It gives information on things in the workplace that could damage the lungs and advice on how to protect them.

What are the hazards?

These are some of the hazards you may come into contact with at work.

  • Cleaning products

    Including:

    • Benzalkonium chloride (quaternary ammonium compound) – found in disinfectants and cleaners for floors and hard surfaces
    • Chlorine-based agents (sodium hypochlorite) – the main ingredient in bleach
    • Some scents within cleaning products such as limonene, which gives some products a citrus smell
    • Isothiazolinones – used in some washing up liquids and laundry washing liquid

  • Chlorine

    Used to clean the water in swimming pools. It reacts with urine and sweat in the water and releases substances called chloramines.

Smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung conditions like COPD and lung cancer

If you smoke, you will be at a much higher risk of developing a lung condition.

Conditions

How can your health be affected?

How to protect yourself

Your employer has a responsibility to ensure the work environment is appropriately ventilated and that you are provided with protective clothing and appropriate safety advice.

Here are four easy things you can do to ensure you're doing everything you can to protect your lung health at work.

  • Assess Risk

    Do risk assessments to make sure you are doing jobs safely and efficiently.

  • Ventilation

    Ventilate (allow cleaner air into the room) during and after using cleaning products.

  • Health check-ups

    Get your health regularly checked – either through a health scheme at your workplace, or by regularly seeing a healthcare professional.

  • When cleaning

    Check ingredients in cleaning products and avoid those that will put you at risk.

    Use wipes not sprays so that you are putting less chemicals into the air for you to breathe in.

    Follow label instructions about the safe use of chemicals.

More information