Silica dust in construction sector is focus for HSENI campaign
Date published:
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is set to carry out 500 inspection visits to construction sites across Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the dangers of silica.
Inspectors will also be providing advice on how to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which is the single biggest health risk to construction workers after asbestos.
Silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in varying amounts in most rock, sand and clay as well as products like bricks and concrete. Silica dust is created during many common construction tasks, such as cutting, sanding or grinding of silica-containing materials such as concrete, mortar and sandstone. Some of this dust is fine enough to reach deep inside the lungs and cause serious harm to health.
Richard Meredith, Principal Inspector of HSENI’s Construction Group said: “Inspectors will be visiting construction sites to ensure that workers are being protected from long-term health problems.
“Our campaign will focus on exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). We aim to raise awareness of the health risks of exposure to RCS which can cause diseases such as lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
“Employers and the self-employed must ensure that the long-term health risks to their employees and to themselves from exposure to silica dust have been considered and that suitable control measures are in place.”
The inspection programme is part of HSENI’s wider healthier workplaces campaign.
Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive CITB NI said: "HSENI’s programme of construction site inspections are vital to safeguarding workers across the industry. They also offer the opportunity to highlight the often-hidden dangers of working with silica. We hope that this proactive approach will raise awareness of the importance of protecting your lung health and ensure construction sites have necessary measures in place to safeguard their workforce.
“We fully support HSENI’s inspection programme and their workplace health campaign which we hope will mean a safer and healthier workforce on construction sites throughout Northern Ireland,” he added.
Further information on silica dust can be found at the following link:
Notes to editors :
Notes to Editors:
- For more information on HSENI Workplace Health campaign visit: www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/workplace-health
- For media enquiries please contact: HSENI Press Office on 028 9024 3249 or email media@hseni.gov.uk. For out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.