CoSHH and the Dangers of Silica in the Construction Industry

Many products found in the building sector include silica such as rock, packet, tiles and concrete.Silica itself isn't dangerous but silica dust, usually known as Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), could cause a number of health problems for employees who are confronted with it. The definition of 'respirable' suggests that dust particles are so small that they can easily be absorbed in to the lungs.Activities which can bring about high contact with silica dust contain stone masonry, concrete cutting and tunnelling. Based on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) around 140,000 personnel in the UK construction industry are exposed frequently to silica.Inhaling RCS may cause lung injury (silicosis) and it's in reality the world's earliest known occupational illness. Silicosis may result in the lungs being damaged and hence can cause breathing problems. In extreme cases it causes irreversible injury to the lungs and may cause permanent disablement and early death. Large and long periods of exposure to silica can also lead to lung cancer.It is vital that companies find out how much silica their employees are subjected to. There is a coverage limit (MEL) of 0.1 mg/m3. Exposure to RCS should be lowered as far as is useful, and should be generally below the MEL.If employees are exposed to silica then their work task should be subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (CoSHH). CoSHH recommendations state that risks to workers health must be assessed and controls place in place.Employers have a duty to minmise the risks that workers are exposed to. Generally, they must try and eradicate silica dust from the workplace. It is possible sometimes for example, to substitute silica for other goods such as non-silica grits when blasting.If an alternate product is not available and you can not get rid of silica dust, then coverage should be managed. This is possible using dirt suppression methods or local exhaust ventilation (LEV). A better alternative to attempting to control exposure by ventilating a whole region would be to remove the dust at source which will be wherever LEV equipment is beneficial.Personal protective equipment (PPE) may help in certain instances but they need to be copied with respiratory protective equipment (RPE) as well. Employees should be well trained in the use of PPE and RPE. They should be supervised and monitored and equipment servicing is crucial.Good washing facilities should be produced available to workers in addition to acceptable storage areas for contaminated work clothing.Once the proper settings are in position it is important that they're all working correctly. Inspections must be made on a regular basis along with team education.