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Spirometry / Lung Function Testing

Spirometry is basically derived from the CoSHH Regulations where people who are exposed to certain substances at work should be subject to health surveillance for it. This includes asthmagens, a lot of chemicals and other more run-of-the-mill substances such as wood dusts, flour, feed mill dusts, welding fume, etc. If you think any of these may apply just give us a shout and we are happy to talk it through with you.

We can undertake the spirometry on its own, or in combination with the audiometry, as suits the client.

HSMC can undertake the spirometry (also known as lung function tests, or often more simply as 'spiros') in your premises, minimising time away from work while maintaining an excellent standard of result. To do this we use the latest PC-controlled USB spirometers, with results being printed immediately and explained to each attendee.

Spirometry / Lung Function Testing Service:

Step 1: Spirometry Questionnaire
On arrival, we will as the attendee to complete a simple health questionnaire before undertaking the spirometry test. Spirometry is very much a comparison of actual performance against expected standards for age, sex, general health, specific background issues such as known ill health or behaviours such as smoking, etc. We then review this with the attendee before the test.

Step 2: The Spirometry itself
Once ready, we get the attendees to blow as long and hard as they can into our rather natty equipment, repeating the test at least three times, or more if they are having trouble being consistent. This tells us how hard they can blow and how much air their lungs can hold, informing us of how healthy the tubes going into the lungs and the lung tissues themselves are.

For the curious, if they can't blow hard then its often a blockage in the tubes which limits how fast the air can get out, while if they can't blow for long the problem is deeper in the lungs and is limiting how much air they can hold.

Step 3: Spirometry Results
We then go through the result there and then with the attendee, explaining what it means for them and if there is anything which we need to be careful of in their workplace.

Step 4: Spirometry Report
And right at the end, we toddle off into the sunset and a few days later a nice spirometry report will land on the client's desk, summarising the results and giving recommendations where problem cases have arisen.

Spirometry / Lung Function Testing general info for attendees:

There are a couple of issues which sometimes come up that can throw the tests a little, but with forewarning these are only trivial and don't get in the way.

Weight
One of the factors which influences the expected result of the spirometry is the weight, and consequently BMI of the attendee. You would be surprised how many people simply don't know roughly how much they weigh so letting people who are due a test know that this is needed beforehand will be a great help. Similarly, a few people are very reluctant to tell us their weight (we're looking at you ladies - the blokes tend to tell us they're a big chubber and wear it as a mark of pride!) but it is purely for us to calculate the expected standards for you personally - we are not a sneaky recruitment arm of Weight Watchers and we treat all this information with a high degree of confidentiality.

Smoking
Unsurprisingly, having a sneaky fag while waiting for a lung function test does have quite a significant impact on the overall success of the spirometry. We have to go further than that though and insist on no smoking for at least one hour before a spirometry test is due or you will be shot. Which also harms your lung function test result.

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