Accommodation and Compliance Series:
Employees with Respiratory Impairment
JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and resources for additional information.
The Accommodation and Compliance Series is a starting point in the accommodation process and may not address every situation. Accommodations should be made on a case by case basis, considering each employee’s individual limitations and accommodation needs. Employers are encouraged to contact JAN to discuss specific situations in more detail.
For information on assistive technology and other accommodation ideas, visit JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) at http://AskJAN.org/soar.
What is a respiratory impairment?
Respiratory impairment is a generic term that refers to a number of medical conditions that can affect the respiratory system and may result in limitations such as labored breathing or asthma attacks, fatigue and difficulty with mobility, heightened sensitivity to ordinary substances and chemicals, and compromised immunity to infection.
What causes respiratory impairments?
The following is a non-comprehensive list of many of the medical conditions that may result in respiratory impairments: Allergies, Asthma, Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Environmental Illness (EI), Fragrance Sensitivity, Lung Cancer, Pulmonary Sarcoidosis, Tuberculosis, Emphysema, Pulmonary Hypertension, Latex Allergy, and AIDS Related Lung Disease.
For more detailed information, see Appendix A at the end of this document.
How are respiratory impairments treated?
Treatment of respiratory impairments depends on many factors, such as the type and stage of impairment; family history; and the individual’s medical history, health, and age. Any of the following may be used for treating respiratory impairments: Inhalers or nebulizers containing bronchodilators or corticosteroids, expectorants, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, chemotherapy, lung transplantation, lung reduction surgery, natural treatments such as N-Acetyl Cysteine and Carnitine, and complementary/integrative therapies and treatments (About.com, 2006).
Are respiratory impairments disabilities under the ADA?
The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet (EEOC Regulations . . ., 2011). Therefore, some people with respiratory impairments will have a disability under the ADA and some will not.
A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having an impairment (EEOC Regulations . . . , 2011). For more information about how to determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, visit http://AskJAN.org/corner/vol05iss04.htm.
Note: People with respiratory impairments may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people with respiratory impairments will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.
Questions to Consider:
- What limitations is the employee experiencing?
- How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?
- What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?
- What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?
- Has the employee been consulted regarding possible accommodations?
- Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to determine whether additional accommodations are needed?
- Do supervisory personnel and employees need training??
- Accessible facility (Ramps, parking etc.)
- Reduce/eliminate lifting, walking, etc.
- Flexibility to sit or stand (Adjustable workstation)
- Rest area with cot
- Later start time
- Frequent rest breaks
- Shorten work day and extend work week
- Job sharing
Avoiding Environmental Triggers:
Some respiratory impairments are aggravated by environmental triggers. It may be helpful to:
- Maintain a clean and healthy work environment
- Provide air purification
- Condition, heat, dehumidify, or add moisture to the air as appropriate
- Provide additional rest breaks for the individual to get fresh air or take medication
- Create a smoke and fragrance-free work environment
- Consider an alternative work arrangement such as work from home
- Allow for alternative work arrangements when construction is taking place
- Use alternative pest management practices
- Implement a flexible leave policy
- Allow for alternative means of communication such as telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, fax, or memos
An individual who experiences respiratory limitations may have difficulty performing activities that require gross motor movement, such as walking long distances, or performing activities that require excessive physical activity. It may be necessary to address access concerns for an individual who has difficulty approaching the work facility, moving around the facility, getting to work, or traveling as an essential job function.
- Modify the work-site to make it accessible
- Provide an accessible parking space with an unobstructed and easily traveled path into the workplace
- Provide an entrance free of steps with doors that open automatically or that have a maximum opening force of five pounds
- Provide an accessible route of travel to and from work areas used by the individual throughout the work environment
- Consider providing a scooter or motorized cart for the employee to use for long distances if the employee does not already use a mobility aid
- Move the individual’s workstation closer to equipment, materials, and rooms the individual uses frequently
- Modify the workstation to accommodate a wheelchair, scooter, or the use of oxygen therapy equipment
- Arrange the workstation so materials and equipment are within reach range
- Provide restrooms that are easily accessed from the individual's workstation
- Review emergency evacuation procedures
Due to the unpredictable nature of the onset of respiratory limitations, an individual may have difficulty maintaining regular attendance or a regular schedule. It may be necessary to:
- Modify the location where work is performed
- Modify the attendance policy
- Provide leave as an accommodation
- Provide a modified or part-time work schedule
- Provide breaks
Maintain Air Quality:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides suggestions for improving indoor air quality in its article, An Office Building Occupant's Guide to Indoor Air Quality found at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/occupgd.html. Employers should keep indoor air quality concerns in mind for employees with and without respiratory impairments. Good IAQ can improve worker productivity for everyone. To maintain air quality, it may be necessary to:
- Provide an office or workspace that has working windows
- Maintain the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system
- Test indoor air quality
- Use air purification systems throughout the building or in personal workstations
- Reduce workplace pollutants
- Provide a mask
- Adjust indoor temperature to meet the individual’s needs
- Institute a fragrance-free workplace
- Provide pre-notification of construction and cleaning in the workplace
- Use non-toxic building materials, furnishings, supplies, and flooring
- Use non-toxic solvents, primers, stains, paints, etc.
Situations and Solutions:
A teacher diagnosed with sick building syndrome was required to attend weekly faculty meetings in the school building. She usually taught class from a portable classroom outside of the building and could not be in the school building for extended time. JAN suggested that she use either a speakerphone or PA system from her classroom to listen in and participate in the meetings, be provided with meeting minutes, or attend the meetings and wear a respirator mask if she felt comfortable doing so.
An office worker with fragrance sensitivity was having difficulty because of the cleaning products used in the employee restroom. JAN provided information about non-toxic cleaning products.
An employee with bronchial asthma could not work in hot environments. JAN discussed air-conditioning, including a window unit for the employee’s office if the employer could not install central air.
A hospital worker with COPD had difficulty walking from the employee lot to the work-site. The parking lot was very large and employees parked on a first-come, first-serve basis. JAN suggested providing a reserved parking space close to the work-site.
There are numerous products that can be used to accommodate people with limitations. JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) at http://AskJAN.org/soar is designed to let users explore various accommodation options. Many product vendor lists are accessible through this system; however, upon request JAN provides these lists and many more that are not available on the Web site. Contact JAN directly if you have specific accommodation situations, are looking for products, need vendor information, or are seeking a referral.
- About.com. (2006). What is lung disease? (2006). Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/basicinformation/a/basicinfo.htm (no longer available)
- EEOC Regulations To Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, as Amended, 29 C.F.R. § 1630 (2011).
The following is a non-comprehensive summary of many of the medical conditions that may result in respiratory limitations. For more detailed information, contact an appropriate medical professional or the resources listed at the end of this document.
Allergies: According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), an estimated 50 to 60 million Americans are affected by allergies. In fact, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States (AAFA, n.d.). It is common for an individual to be sensitive to more than one particular irritant. A substance that may normally not affect the average person may produce nasal congestion, itchy, watery eye, or an asthma attack for someone who is allergic. Allergic symptoms may occur due to dust, mold, mildew, pollen, foods, and insects among any number of other substances.
Asthma: According to the American Lung Association (ALA), asthma is a chronic lung disease that can be life threatening (ALA, 2008d). Asthma causes breathing problems known as asthma attacks or episodes of asthma. A person with asthma might get an asthma attack when they have a cold or some other kind of respiratory infection or when they breathe something that bothers the lungs such as cigarette smoke or dust. Asthma symptoms are often triggered by changes in weather (cold or hot), emotional distress and exercise. Asthma attacks may start suddenly or may take an extended period of time, even days, to develop. Attacks can be severe, moderate or mild and can require a period of recuperation.
Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Environmental Illness (EI), and Fragrance Sensitivity: Chemical sensitivity, or MCS, is characterized by such symptoms as headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties, tightening of the throat, chronic laryngitis, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, learning disorders, eczema, arthritis-like sensations, and muscle pain (About.com, 2006). A person who experiences limitations due to MCS or EI may have any of the above mentioned symptoms when exposed to such irritants as fragrances, cleaning agents, smoke, pesticides, molds, fumes from office machines, car exhaust, paint, new carpeting, solvents and other irritants.
For more specific information regarding MCS/EI, see JAN's Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Chemical Sensitivity or Environmental Illness at http://AskJAN.org/media/MCS.html.
For more specific information regarding fragrance sensitivity, see JAN's Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Fragrance Sensitivity at http://AskJAN.org/media/fragrance.html.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): The American Lung Association indicates that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Approximately 16.4 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD. COPD includes diseases that are characterized by obstruction to airflow such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. It does not include other obstructive diseases such as asthma. Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation and eventual scarring of the lining of the bronchial tubes and is evidenced by a chronic cough, increased mucus, frequent clearing of the throat and shortness of breath. Emphysema causes irreversible lung damage and is evidenced by cough, shortness of breath and limited exercise tolerance (ALA, 2002a).
Lung Cancer: According to the American Cancer Society's Lung Cancer Resource Center, it is estimated that there will be 169,400 new cases of lung cancer in the United States in 2002. Statistics show that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined (ACS, n.d.a).
Lung cancer generally develops over a period of years and typically affects people over the age of 50. The American Lung Association's, Facts About Lung Cancer, describes cancers that begin in the lungs. Lung related cancers are divided into two major types, non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer generally spreads to distant organs more slowly than small cell lung cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are three types of non-small cell lung cancer (ACS, n.d.a).
Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: Pulmonary sarcoidosis affects lung volume decreasing the amount of air the lungs can hold. The American Lung Association describes the disease as being characterized by the presence of granulomas, small areas of inflamed cells. They can appear on the walls of the alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs), or on the walls of the bronchioles (breathing tubes in the lungs), or in the lymph nodes surrounding the lungs. Symptoms include a dry cough, shortness of breath, or mild chest pain. Additionally, the person may experience fatigue, weakness, and weight loss. In cases where symptoms do appear outside the lung, they can include a scaly rash, red bumps on the legs, fever, soreness of the eyes, and pain and swelling of the ankles (ALA, 2008b).
Tuberculosis (TB): TB is an infection that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other organs and tissues in the body. The infection is spread by airborne TB bacteria. A person may have TB infection or TB disease. If a person has TB infection they are essentially a carrier of the bacteria but are not affected by the bacteria. A person infected with TB disease, however, is ill and requires treatment. A person with TB disease can spread the disease. Symptoms of TB disease include excessive coughing (including coughing blood), repeated night sweats, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, chills, and general lethargy. According to the American Lung Association, the rate of reported tuberculosis dropped 45 percent between 1992 and 2000. The decrease in reported TB has been attributed to improved TB control programs (ALA, 2008f).
Emphysema: According to the American Lung Association, emphysema ranks 15th among chronic conditions that contribute to activity limitations. An estimated 44 percent of individuals with emphysema report that daily activities have been limited by the disease. Emphysema develops gradually, usually from exposure to cigarette smoke. Some individuals are born with a deficiency of a protein known as alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) which can lead to an inherited form of emphysema called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency-related emphysema. For individuals with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs become damaged and less able to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream. The individual then becomes short of breath and has difficulty exhaling because the lungs also lose their elasticity (ALA, 2008a).
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH): There are two forms of pulmonary hypertension, primary (PPH) and secondary (SPH). According to the American Lung Association, it is estimated that there are 300 new cases of PPH per year. PPH is defined as a rare disease of unknown cause that results in the progressive narrowing of the blood vessels of the lungs, causing high blood pressure in these blood vessels which eventually leads to heart failure. Secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH) results from other types of lung disease, abnormal breathing processes, or heart disease (ALA, 2002h). According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms and limitations of PPH include shortness of breath with exertion and general fatigue, passing-out spells, dizziness, ankle or leg swelling, and chest pain or pressure (ALA, 2008a).
Latex Allergy: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states the following about latex allergy, “Allergy to latex was first recognized in the late 1970s. Since then, it has become a major health concern as an increasing number of people in the work place have been affected. Health care workers exposed to latex gloves or medical products containing latex are especially at risk. It is estimated that 8-12% of health care workers are latex sensitive. Between 1988 and 1992, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) received more than 1,000 reports of adverse health effects from exposure to latex, including 15 deaths due to such exposure” (OSHA, n.d).
Latex allergy reactions can range from mild to very severe. Typically, the allergy begins with an irritant contact dermatitis and can develop into an immediate allergic reaction with respiratory symptoms. An individual with a latex allergy can be affected after coming into physical contact with products like latex gloves, elastic from waist bands, rubber bands, or medical equipment, by inhaling proteins from powdered latex gloves or balloons or by ingesting food products that have been prepared by workers using latex products.
For more specific information regarding latex allergy, see JAN's Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees who are Allergic to Natural Rubber Latex at http://AskJAN.org/media/LATEX.html.
AIDS Related Lung Disease: A person with AIDS may experience any number of lung infections. Most common are pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), which is caused by a fungus, and tuberculosis and mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) which are caused by bacterium. AIDS also predisposes an individual to a variety of other lung infections from bacteria and molds (ACS, n.d.b). It is important for an individual with a compromised immune system to make an effort to avoid exposure to viruses and bacteria to stay healthy.
References for Appendix A
- About.com. (2006). Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) the controversy? (2006). Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://allergies.about.com/library/weekly/aa011899.htm?terms=Multiple+Chemical+Sensitivity
- American Cancer Society (n.d.a). All about lung cancer. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=&dt=15
- American Cancer Society (n.d.b). AIDS-related lung cancers. Retrieved September 5, 2008, http://www.cancer.orgp
- American Lung Association (2008a). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- American Lung Association (2008b). Sarcoidosis. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- American Lung Association (2008c). Tuberculosis fact sheet. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- American Lung Association (2008d). Asthma in adults fact sheet. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- American Lung Association (2008e). Lung cancer fact sheet. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- American Lung Association (2008f). Tuberculosis fact sheet. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- American Lung Association (2003). Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) fact sheet. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.lungusa.org
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (n.d.). Allergy facts and figures. Retrieved January 26, 2006, from http://www.aafa.org
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (n.d.). Safety and health topics latex allergy. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.osha.gov