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Silica dust: The need for appropriate monitoring

26 April 2018

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggests there are an estimated 13,000 deaths linked to exposure at work, primarily to chemicals and dust. Silica dust, or Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), is one of the biggest risks in construction, causing approximately 500 construction worker deaths every year from serious lung diseases as the result of prolonged exposure. Tim Turney, technical product manager at Casella, stresses the need for monitoring

Silica dust is a natural substance found in most rock, sands, and clay materials, and in bricks and concrete. When these materials are cut, sanded or carved in the workplace the disturbance can cause invisible fine dust that can be breathed in by workers, putting them at risk and increasing their chances of developing lung diseases. 

It is the employer’s responsibility to assess and implement measures to protect workers against dust exposure, in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). In December 2017, a London based building contractor company was fined £40,000 following a HSE investigation that found failures in health and safety management leading to a number of issues on site, including gross exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica. Not only can it have a detrimental effect on workers, companies that do not take appropriate measures can also face prosecutions and hefty fines. In order to control exposure and protect workers, it is important to monitor the level of exposure and ensure adequate control measures are introduced. 

Personal sampling pumps 

A personal sampling pump is an efficient, practical and adaptable solution made to measure an individual’s exposures to a variety of substances, including dust. Personal pumps provide information on temperatures and dust levels, alerting employers about the risk of explosions or harmful levels of dusts in the atmosphere. For silica dust, personal monitoring is essential. Personal sampling pumps offer a more enhanced monitoring system with the ability to provide data records all the time. Based on the findings, employers can further improve safety management on site and dust control measures can be modified.

Respiratory diseases devastate millions of lives. Personal monitoring is a positive tool that boosts productivity and motivation whilst helping employers adhere to safety regulations. Not only does monitoring encourage individuals to operate safely on their own but also work with their employer to understand workplace risks and how to mitigate them in order to manage a healthy occupational environment and a healthy life.

Workplace air

Personal sampling pumps should be tested to the latest International Standardisation Organisation ISO 13137, covering the latest requirements for personal sampling devices. The standard requires personal sampling pumps to achieve a stable flow within 5% and keep pulsation less than 10%. Casella has recently launched the Flow Detective, an air sampling pump calibrator with the ability to measure pulsation, indicating if the air flow pulsation exceeds 10%. Excessive pulsation means an unsteady flow and has a detrimental effect on the ability of air samplers to collect the correct fraction of respirable dust, reducing the accuracy of air sampling. 

It is imperative that monitoring continues to evolve in accordance to the changing production methods. Employee health must remain a priority and a core component of any workplace health and safety management system. In addition, educating and training workers in raising awareness about the risks of dust exposure is integral in ensuring that they understand how to prioritise and protect their health. 

 
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