Health and Safety Executive
CHASAC C/o Health and Safety Executive Kingsley Dunham Centre Nicker Hill Keyworth Nottingham NG12 5GG
Dear HSE Foundry Inspection Programme – Follow-up The Health and Safety Executive has begun the second year of its Foundry Inspection Programme with visits starting in July 2023, that will run through to the end of December 2023. The focus of these inspection visits is to ensure that exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and other harmful substances is being adequately controlled by companies in the UK foundry sector. This RCS inspection initiative is supported by the HSE Dust Kills communications campaign: Silica Dust – Work right to keep Britain safe (https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/silica/) The results of last year’s programme of visits have been analysed and revealed twelve key areas where the foundries inspected were not complying with the law and were putting at risk the health and safety of their workers. Key Improvements Required in UK Foundries 1. Provision of adequate Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) on furnaces to extract fume at source 2. Not wearing the correct PPE for working with molten metal 3. Provision and use of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) when pouring molten metal 4. Provision and use of LEV and RPE in mould making and use of compressed air to finish moulds 5. Minimisation of release of RCS when filling mould boxes 6. Provision of LEV and RPE for fettling operations 7. Ensuring adequate RPE programmes to select the correct RPE, maintain and store it properly and ensure its correct use - face fitting, workers being clean shaven and filters changed 8. Provision of adequate COSHH sampling and monitoring to show that harmful substances are being adequately controlled 9. Provision of adequate health surveillance for workers exposed to RCS and asthmagens to pick up problems early and prevent them getting worse. 10. Elimination of dry sweeping and use of compressed air for cleaning surfaces and machinery 11. Provision of adequate welfare facilities 12. Training for supervisors to ensure that they are competent to supervise hazardous tasks.