Respirable Crystalline Silica – get in the know

Research from Imperial College London suggests that around 900 new cases of lung cancer each year in Britain can be attributed to past exposure to silica dust in construction, granite and stone industries, and various industrial processes. High risk industries include; stone working, brick manufacturing, metal casting and foundries, cement production, mining, quarrying and demolition

Common scenarios where people may be exposed include:

• Breaking, crushing, grinding or milling silica-containing material such as concrete
• Moving earth, e.g. excavating, mining, quarrying or tunnelling
• Drilling, cutting, blasting, chiselling or sanding silica-containing material
• Using silica, sand or silica-containing products in the manufacturing process of glass and other non-metallic mineral products

On a group level - in a factory or workshop environment, the best strategy is to use engineering controls like enclosures or extraction hoods, and local exhaust ventilation to extract the contaminated air at the point it’s produced. Using water suppression on fixed machinery, and by improvement of housekeeping standards by using vacuums fitted with HEPA filters or wet cleaning methods are also effective methods of control.

On an individual level - where work with hand-held power tools generates dust, the best strategies are to use localised ventilation on the tool or suppress the dust using water spray systems.

As a last resort - in all situations, if it’s not possible to adequately control airborne silica dust using engineering solutions, and air sampling data shows that there is still an unacceptable level of dust, then operatives should use personal respiratory protection equipment (RPE).

The current Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) in the UK is 0.1 mg/m³. If you are unsure whether your employee exposure exceeds the levels laid down in the COSHH regulations then it would be appropriate to undertake exposure monitoring.

RPS is uniquely positioned to provide a fully integrated respirable crystalline silica service, which will help clients to recognise, evaluate and control occupational exposure to RCS. This service can be tailored in response to the challenges of each client to assist in meeting the requirements of the COSHH regulations. Compliance with prescribed occupational exposure limits, control of the workplace environment and working methods, and staff education will help companies achieve the required level of workers’ protection.