The asthma of the baker: epic of the prevention

The asthma of the baker: epic of the prevention

It is not a joke, the bakers can develop an allergy to the flour, where more exactly of the respiratory allergies to dust of flour. To prevent this type of affection, some professional gestures are to be acquired.

Asthma, rhinitis and other respiratory allergies

Asthma and the rhinitides constitute very frequent respiratory allergies among the bakers. In France, the flour represents the first cause of occupational disease. These respiratory allergies, which are however recognized like occupational diseases, remain however little declared by fear of dismissal or reclassification. It is estimated that 100.000 bakers (30.000 craftsmen and 70.000 paid) are concerned.

The asthma of the baker can be prevented

However the reactions allergic to dust of flour which the bakers can develop are likely to be prevented thanks to the installation of work methods aiming at decreasing dust in the bakehouse.
A study on evaluation of the tasks in various situations of work made it possible to recommend some gestures and equipment:

to learn how to empty its bag of flour without shaking it,

to pour the flour in water and not the reverse,

to spread out the flour with the hand without projecting it,

to use a scraper to clean the scheme of work instead of the “soufflette”,

to separate the behaviors of work from the town suits,

not to shake nor to brush the working clotheses but to wash them,

to avoid the drafts.

The objective: to decrease dust of flour by all the means

Other solutions are more expensive like the installation of a ventilation in the room or the purchase of a vacuum cleaner for cleaning for example.
If it is difficult to change its practices, it is essential that the apprentices acquire such gestures, such reflexes, at the beginning of their career, their training. Because the respiratory allergies can arrive constantly in the career of a baker. It is advisable to be protected permanently from dust of flour.