Protecting those who care for us
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Protecting those who care for us: domiciliary workers and exposure to second-hand smoke
IRAS ID
274813
Contact name
Sean Semple
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Breathing second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) at work is known to increase the risks of cancer, and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions including exacerbations of asthma, heart attacks and strokes. Since 2006/7 the UK has reduced the number of workers exposed to SHS significantly. At a population level, data from Scotland indicates the proportion of non-smoking adults who show biological evidence of exposure to SHS has fallen from 83% to 19%, with most of this reduction the result of legal restrictions in workplaces and social settings.
Domiciliary health and care workers are a large and growing group of over 600,000 workers in the UK who perform day-to-day work tasks that involve spending time in patients’ homes where smoke-free regulations do not apply. They are one of the final occupational groups likely to experience frequent and high exposure to SHS as part of their work. Current guidance and policy measures used by Health Boards and Social Care providers to assess and manage the risks to health from SHS are fragmented and often poorly understood. Evidence suggests that SHS exposure is a real concern for many domiciliary workers who feel left behind in terms of exposure to SHS when almost all other workers are protected through legislation.
In this research, we aim to: (i) quantify the frequency, duration and concentration of SHS exposure experienced by domiciliary workers in the UK; (ii) provide estimates of the health burden experienced by domiciliary workers as a result of SHS exposure; (iii) review (in the UK and globally) current policies and guidance used to manage the risks to health of workers exposed to SHS, with particular consideration of measures in place for pregnant workers and those with chronic respiratory conditions; and (iv) better understand current experiences of domiciliary workers and their managers in relation to SHS exposure.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0121
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion