Amicus launches silica dust campaign

AS part of this year’s European Health & Safety Week (23–27 October), Amicus, the manufacturing, technical and skilled persons’ union, is launching a campaign to protect workers from the health hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica (silica dust).

The campaign is being aimed at the construction sector –– where the HSE estimates that several hundred thousand workers could be exposed to silica dust on an occasional basis and about 140,000 workers are exposed on a more regular basis –– but is equally applicable to other industries where workers may be exposed, such as quarrying, brickmaking, ceramics and stonemasonry.

A revised Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for respirable crystalline silica of 0.1mg/m3 came into force earlier this month, reduced from the previous Maximum Exposure Limit (MEL) of 0.3mg/m3.

Breathing in fine dust containing silica can cause lung damage and may lead to silicosis, the world’s oldest known occupational disease. Silicosis is an irreversible condition that often takes years to develop causing breathing problems, which can be severely disabling and in extreme cases, can lead to premature death.

The union has sent a copy of the new ‘Amicus Guide to Controlling Silica Dust’ to all of its health and safety representatives in the construction industry and is calling on employers to start negotiations to remove the risks associated with working with silica.

The booklet explains the hazards of breathing in silica dust, and the measures that can be taken to remove silica dust from the workplace, and failing that, to control silica dust to the lowest possible levels. Amicus say it is relevant to all workers who could be exposed to silica dust, whatever industry they work in.

Amicus general secretary Derek Simpson, said: ‘Ensuring that workers are protected from occupational disease is one of the most important roles of a trade union. That is why Amicus has been proud to sign up to a European-wide agreement that will protect hundreds of thousands of UK workers from the effects of silica dust. This new guide explains how Amicus health and safety representatives can work with their employers to remove the risks associated with working with silica.’

For more information, contact Amicus health and safety officer Bud Hudspith on tel: (07881) 588917.