health FACTS

Health problems associated with work in compressed air

n Decompression sickness - this takes two forms - the most common is 'the bends'; the other can be fatal.

n Barotrauma - this is where the change in pressure causes physical damage such as burst ear drums.

n Osteonecrosis, also known as 'bone rot' - this is a long term chronic condition damaging the bones. It is caused when nitrogen bubbles in blood vessels cut off blood supplies to the bones.