SLIDE 1
Silica Dust: You Are More At Risk Than You May Think Its only dust - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Silica Dust: You Are More At Risk Than You May Think Its only dust - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Health and Safety Health and Safety Executive Executive Silica Dust: You Are More At Risk Than You May Think Its only dust you know! What is the Problem? Why is it a Problem? Particles need to be respirable to cause harm
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
What is the Problem?
SLIDE 4
Why is it a Problem?
- Particles need to be
“respirable” to cause harm
- Issue is Respirable Crystalline
Silica or RCS
- RCS particles can penetrate
to deep lung
SLIDE 5
Why is it a Problem?
- A micron is one millionth of a meter.
- Human hair varies between 40 to 100 µm thick.
- Respirable dust = 10 µm or less
SLIDE 6
Why is it a Problem? Small size means often invisible under normal conditions
SLIDE 7
Why is it a Problem?
Repeated Exposure to Silica cause serious health effects:
- Lung disease & reduced lung function
- Disease continues to develop when
exposure has stopped
- Silicosis
- Can also cause lung cancer and COPD
- Can cause death
SLIDE 8
Why is it a Problem?
Statistics are imprecise:
- 10 – 20 % of construction workers exposed ???
- Over 500 silica related deaths in 2004 –
– Over 10 a week
- Research suggests silica is the second most
important cause of occupational lung cancer after asbestos
SLIDE 9
SLIDE 10
How Much is a Problem?
COSHH sets WEL for dust: General Dust
- 10 mg.m-3 (inhalable)
- 4 mg.m-3 (respirable)
Respirable Silica
- 0.1 mg.m-3 (8-hour TWA)
SLIDE 11
How Much is a Problem?
SLIDE 12
How Much is a Problem?
15 min SLAB CUTTING (40% silica) in open air, no control
- Diamond blade = RCS exposure of 1.6 mg/m3
- Resin blade = RCS exposure of 4.8 mg/m3
SLIDE 13
Control Solutions
- Can exposure be reduced?
SLIDE 14
Control Solutions
Water Suppression
SLIDE 15
Control Solutions
Water Sources
SLIDE 16
Control Solutions
Water Suppression has other advantages:
- Extends the life of
expensive diamond blades
- Helps prevent build up of dust in
the machine workings
SLIDE 17
Control Solutions
Issues associated with water suppression use:
- Marking the cut line
- Slurry generation
- Wet legs
SLIDE 18
Control Solutions
On-Tool LEV is also an option.
SLIDE 19
What about RPE
Disposable (FFP3) Orinasal Half Mask PF = 20
SLIDE 20
What about RPE
Must fit correctly Be worn correctly
SLIDE 21
What about RPE
Power Assisted PF = 20
SLIDE 22
No or Ineffective Controls = Enforcement Significant Risks to your health
SLIDE 23