In a recent series of inspections conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of its Dust Kills campaign, both commendable and concerning practices regarding the management of construction dust exposure have been unveiled.
Between May and July, over 1,000 inspections were carried out across construction sites in Great Britain, scrutinising businesses’ efforts to prevent or control the risks associated with construction dust. The HSE’s Dust Kills campaign supported these inspections, leveraging social media channels to reach nearly two million connections and garner widespread stakeholder and press coverage.
Positive examples of effective dust control practices included the use of motorised water suppression and face-fit tested FFP3 respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to mitigate exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which can lead to silicosis and lung cancer. Additionally, air fed hoods were employed during carpentry tasks involving high-powered cutting saws to prevent exposure to wood dust, a known cause of asthma.
However, the inspections also uncovered instances of poor practices, such as the absence of on-tool extraction for cutting saws generating silica and wood dust. Other concerns included poorly maintained extraction equipment and the inadequate provision of suitable RPE for workers. The failure to consider health when performing basic tasks like indoor sweeping without dust control measures was also noted.
A significant worry highlighted by the HSE is the neglect of the hierarchy of controls on some sites, where effective design or planning to eliminate dust risks is absent. Instances of overlooking pre-cut materials and the lack of measures like water suppression, on-tool extraction, and proper RPE usage contribute to ongoing health hazards for construction workers.
Mike Thomas, Acting Head of Construction Division at HSE, emphasised the severe health risks associated with prolonged dust exposure, including lung cancer, asthma, COPD, and silicosis. While praising instances of good practice, he underscored the need for continuous improvement in addressing dust-related risks in the construction industry.
As the data undergoes a comprehensive evaluation, more insights are expected to be released. The findings coincide with the beginning of UK Construction Week, running from October 3 to 5 in Birmingham.
Employers are being reminded of their legal obligation to safeguard workers’ health by preventing or adequately controlling their exposure to construction dust. The emphasis is on achieving elimination through thoughtful design and planning, with the implementation of control measures and properly fitted RPE where elimination is not feasible. The responsibility also extends to employees, who are urged to actively participate in wearing and maintaining provided RPE.
