§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of high incidence in the winter of farmer's lung, if he will introduce legislation to require that all employers who have contact with spore-laden mouldy hay are provided with special protective facial masks.
§ Mr. WaddingtonMy right hon. Friend has no plans at present to introduce specific legislation requiring provision of special protective face masks for all employees in contact with spore-laden mouldy hay.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 employers have a general duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees while at work. The general duties provisions are widely used by the Health and Safety Executive when requiring safe working practices to be adopted for such work activities as the handling of mouldy hay.