HSE Announce Another Crack Down on Dust Control

Earlier this week, the HSE posted an article on LinkedIn announcing that, commencing 7^th October, they will be visiting construction sites across the UK to ensure that dust is being effectively controlled. Are you ready for their visit? Do you have the right measures in place to protect workers from occupational lung disease on your site?

Construction dust is not just a nuisance; it is a serious health hazard, and even the simplest of construction tasks can produce dangerous levels of dust. Currently, it is estimated that over half a million construction workers are exposed to silica dust in the UK, even with today’s tighter regulations

Regular exposure can cause diseases like lung cancer, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and silicosis. Most of these diseases develop gradually over time and the effects take time to appear. Unfortunately, by the time the effects become noticeable, the damage may already be life changing, resulting in permanent disability and early death. Despite these dangers, however, some companies are still failing to meet health and safety regulations.

To ensure that your site is safe for employees and compliant with The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 law, you must assess the risks associated with the activities onsite and look at ways to eliminate or reduce the amount of airborne dust generated on site. If you already have controls in place, it is vital to review them to ensure they are effective.

RVT can help you through this process; we provide specialist advice to companies up and down the country, helping them to maintain safe and breathable air whatever the project. Our vast range of extraction units, filters, enclosures and dust monitors, enable us to provide a tailored solution for every project, without hindering the work itself.