Health & Safety: Protecting construction workers from Silica Dust

Silica is found in construction materials – Natural stone, sandstone, bricks, clay, and concrete products. It is even found in some plastics as silica is used as a filter during the production process.

What is silica?

Silica is a natural compound and has multiple uses in the construction industry.

However, exposure to fine silica particles vary between distinct types of materials with fine dust remaining in the air from many different working activities. For example:

• Quarrying and stone processing - Rock drilling, blasting, breaking, crushing, and screening

• Stone production (particularly on sandstones as they are made-up of around 70% silica) into architectural masonry, cladding, traditional masonry blocks, and natural walling stone

• Refractory production, cutting, polishing, and finishing products

• Concrete product and manufacturing and production

• Demolition processes where encountering concrete, natural stone, brick, mortar, plaster, roofing products are prevalent

Be informed about the effects of breathing silica dust.

Workers do not have to get sick when working with materials containing silica. Silica related illnesses are 100% preventable.

The simplest steps to prevent exposer while working around construction products include:

• Using the correct responsive respiratory protective equipment

• Wear a face mask, and protective clothing

• Use blasting cabinets and proper ventilation

• Use wet production methods when cutting, or grinding products

• Limit the time you work in duty production environments

• Follow good personal hygiene rules:

• Do not eat or drink in dusty workrelated areas

• Always Shower and change clothes after work to prevent taking dust particles home

So, know the hazards and take precautions to avoid exposure.

Remember, continued exposure can lead to developing health complications including, silicosis a long-team lung disease caused by inhaling fine crystalline silica dust over many years.

It is the responsibility of employers to provide a safe working environment for all employees.

If you find yourself in a workplace or working on construction sites where you are working around products that are known to contain crystalline silica there are health and safety training programmes that you can sign-up to.

Essential Site Skills offer extensive workplace health & safety training courses including our popular Face Fit Train the Tester course that provide those who are required to wear responsive respiratory protective equipment, the knowledge of how to conduct face fit testing using Qualitative method. If you are responsible for health and safety within your organisation, then it is essential that face fit testing is conducted correctly, and documented evidence is recorded.

All ESS face fit testing and train the tester courses are delivered by our Fit2Fit accredited tutors.

If you want to know more about our Face fit and related Health and Safety courses including:

Asbestos Awareness UKATA

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

Risk Assessment Training

Non-Licensable work with Asbestos (UKATA)

Go to https: /essentialsiteskills.co.uk/ category/face-fit-testing