Workplace health and safety laws and silica exposure

Silica, or silicone dioxide, is a naturally-occurring substance found in clay, rocks

and sand, as well as in building materials such as concrete, mortar, bricks,
abrasives, masonry and much other construction equipment. When these
products and materials are carved, sanded, cut, drilled or manipulated in other
ways, they can produce silica dust, which can cause harm to people. As a result,
health and safety laws have been created to control workers exposure to silica
dust and to prevent related industrial illnesses.
!he "ontrol of Substances #a$ardous to #ealth %"&S##' (egulations )**) is the
+,s primary piece of health and safety law relating to silica dust. !hese
regulations call for employers to reduce their workforces exposure to substances
that could cause breathing problems or respiratory diseases when inhaled, such
as silica dust. -n some cases, the consequences of inhaling silica dust can be
fatal, with other su.erers commonly developing long-lasting and debilitating
illnesses.
Some of the industrial illnesses associated with inhalation of silica dust include
cancer, asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and silicosis.
Silica dust becomes lodged in the su.erers lungs, causing continual irritation
and reducing the persons lung capacity. /xposure to silica dust is a workplace
safety issue for employees in many di.erent sectors, including0
- "onstruction
- 1emolition
- Abrasive blasting
- 2oundries
- Slate processing and mining
- "eramics and potteries
- 3uilding products manufacturing
- 4asonry
The most significant workplace safety risks involving silica occur in abrasive sandblasting,
such as when removing rust or rotten paint from structures, with high levels of exposure also
associated with rock and well drilling, jack hammering, concrete drilling or mixing, concrete
and brick sawing and cutting, tunnelling and tuck pointing.
Health and safety laws and silica exposure
Because of these widespread health and safety risks, CO!! regulations call for employers
to"
- Assess the dangers silica dust poses to workers health
- (ecord risk assessments
- !ell employees anything relevant uncovered in risk assessments
- +se products with lower respirable crystalline silica contents when
required
- "ontrol or eliminate silica dust exposure through good occupational
hygiene practices
- 5rovide workers with any personal protective equipment they need
- 4aintain workplace equipment properly
- !rain sta. in how to safely use equipment
- &.er health surveillance if required, which may include working history
and health questionnaires, lung function examinations and 6-rays of the
chest, if required
- /nsure that control measures work properly through monitoring
- Arrangements to deal with accidents at work compensation and other
incidents or emergencies that will reduce the risks faced by sta. and the
general public
#eparable crystalline silica exposure is legally not allowed to surpass the $orkplace
%xposure &imit of '.(mg reparable dust per cubic metre, averaged out over an eight)hour
period.
The particular safety measures an employer will have to put in place to reduce workplace
exposure to silica dust will depend on the nature of their business and employees* tasks, with
health and safety guidance for particular industries published through CO!! essentials.
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