WORK RELATED DISEASES WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN
More needs to be done to help protect workers from Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). Scott Safety advises that there are certain elements of respiratory
protective equipment (RPE) that need to be taken into consideration from the very start of a task.
RCS is one of the most common naturally-occurring elements on the planet. Found in the earth’s crust, crystalline silica is a key component of soil, sand, granite and other naturally- occurring minerals. According to HSE, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is the second biggest risk to construction workers, causing between 10 and 20 deaths a year for the last 10 years.
Crystalline Silica can be encountered in a number of industries including construction, mining, quarrying, stone work, tunneling, glass and ceramic manufacturing and foundries. Any abrasive activities that cut, chip, drill or grind can cause silica dust to form.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Exposure to silica dust causes a range of respiratory diseases including lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema. Silica dust is minuscule and is often too fine to see, which can cause issues for employers exploring the most effective ways to protect their workers.
Respirable crystalline silica can cause irreversible fibro- cardiovascular diseases such as silicosis, cancer and even pulmonary tuberculosis. Silicosis in particular is incurable so workers who are exposed to silica are a big risk.
Often symptoms of silicosis can take up to 15 years to occur so it is important that workers are aware of what these may be:
• Debilitating shortness of breath • Loud cough • Feeling of weakness • Weight loss • Chest pains • Night sweats
20 HOW CAN EMPLOYERS
PREVENT SILICOSIS? In accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) law, it is mandatory for all employers to assess and implement measures to protect workers against the exposure of RCS. Following a thorough risk assessment, if RCS is detected employers must find out how much silica workers are exposed to and arrange for the appropriate control measures to reduce the risk to their health.
“THE TWO MOST
IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING RPE IS THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
AND THE WORKER’S NEEDS.”
Preventing or controlling the risk must take place before work starts. Using different materials or less powerful tools, for example, could reduce the production of silica dust. If dust levels are still high, another action to stop the dust getting into the air could be using water to damp down dust clouds – although this needs to be done correctly. Simply wetting the material does not work; a consistent flow of water at the right level is needed whilst work is being carried out. On-tool extraction is another option: this removes the dust as it is being produced through
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