APPG Report - Improving Silicosis Outcomes in the UK

In 2020, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and the B&CE worked together to complete an inquiry into silicosis in the construction industry. This report included information about how to tackle silicosis, as well as highlighting the dangerous effects silicosis can cause to workers long-term health.

After the initial report was released, the APPG were contacted by several industry experts who suggested that there was an incomplete consideration of the risk reduction strategies within the report. As such they reassessed the current state of the risk reduction strategies and put forward new recommendations for the DHSC, NHS England, the HSE and Industry communities to consider.

What is Silicosis?

Silicosis is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) dust over a long period of time. Silica dust is commonly found in sandstone, concrete, granite, slate, tile, brick and other common building materials. Site activities such as cutting, drilling, and sanding causes the fine silica dust particles to become airborne, which increases the risk of it being inhaled into the lungs. Continuous build-up of silica dust in the lungs, leads to areas of the tissue to scar and hardened, interfering with the lungs being able to function effectively.

The HSE refers to silica as “the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos” and an estimated 600,000 workers are exposed to silica in the UK each year.

Those who work in the following industries are particularly at risk:

• Construction and Demolition

• Stone Masonry and Stone Cutting

• Mining and Quarrying

• Worktop Manufacturing and Fitting

• Sand Blasting

• Pottery, Ceramics and Glass Manufacturing

Report Recommendations:

Clinical Recommendations

• Include silicosis as a notifiable disease in the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010

• Any notification of previous RCS exposure should be accessible within secondary care, specifically on presentation at the lung health checks and the community diagnostic centres

• Introduce occupational health services into GP surgeries to allow for occupational histories to be taken where RCS work-related ill health is suspected

• Patient records should include if a person has been subject to health surveillance due to exposure to silicosis and occupational health providers undertaking surveillance should be required to notify the GP

Regulatory Recommendations

• The Department for Education needs to consider the inclusion of silica related risk as a compulsory syllabus item for all building and construction modules in government funded apprenticeship schemes and further education courses

• The HSE should undertake an industry awareness campaign on the dangers of respirable crystalline silica in order to improve compliance with the existing Work Exposure Limits (WEL)

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) should assess and determine the data and technology needed to allow the UK to reduce the WEL for work with silica to 0.05 mg/m3

• The HSE needs to take active steps to look into real time monitoring systems as a matter of some urgency, to determine and share the data sets that they deem to be necessary to take this forward and liaise with industry to speed the process and introduction of real time monitoring systems

• The HSE should actively consider and consult with industry on the position of real time monitoring to complement the hierarchy of control

What Happens Next?

When the first report was released in 2020, this was one month before the UK went into Lockdown due to the pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 led to significant disruptions in respiratory disease care and management, it was therefore inappropriate for the APPG to push forward with their recommendations at a time of national emergency. However, with a new report two years later, the APPG hope that now is a better time for the relevant government departments to address the importance of reducing silicosis in the UK.

Specialist Dust Control Solutions

If you are struggling with dust on site, RVT Group can offer a free consultation and site assessment, where our highly experienced and qualified consultants will recommend a fully compliant solution.

Call us on 0808 178 3286 to book your free site visit or click here for more dust control information.

To learn more about the dangers of silica dust, click here to download our free whitepaper.

Download the full APPG Report here.