Information
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Engineer
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Completed
Toolbox Talk
Toolbox Talk Information
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Control of exposure to Silica Dust
This purpose of this Toolbox talk is to explain the risks of exposure to silica dust and what your employer and you should do to prevent lung disease caused by exposure to silica at work.
What is silica?
Silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay and in products such as bricks and concrete.
Silica is also used as filler in some plastics.
In the workplace these materials create dust when they are cut, sanded, carved etc.
Some of this dust may be fine enough to breathe deeply into your lungs and cause -harm to your health.
The fine dust is called respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and is too fine to see with normal lighting.
The quantity of silica contained in stone and other materials varies considerably between different types of stone:
Approximate RCS content of different materials
Sandstone 70–90%
Concrete, mortar 25–70%
Tile 30–45%
Granite 20–45%, typically 30%
Slate 20–40%
Brick Up to 30%
Limestone 2%
Marble 2%
Certain activities create dust containing RCS, such as:
■ grinding, drilling, cutting, sanding, chiselling, blasting;
■ polishing, conveying;
■ fettling;
■ mixing and handling, shovelling dry material;
■ rock drilling/breaking/crushing/screening.
In workplaces, the following can happen:
■ leaks or spillages cause a build-up of dust containing RCS;
■ dust containing RCS is not cleaned up safely, e.g. by dry sweeping rather than wet cleaning (see below);
■ clothing and surfaces are contaminated with dust containing RCS;
■ accumulated dust containing RCS is ‘raised’ from the ground or other surfaces by moving vehicles and people;
■ fine dusts remain in the air from work activities.
How can RCS harm your health?
By breathing in RCS, you could develop the following lung diseases:
Silicosis: Silicosis makes breathing more difficult and increases the risk of lung infections. Silicosis usually follows exposure to RCS over many years, but extremely high exposures can lead rapidly to ill health.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): COPD is a group of lung
diseases, including bronchitis and emphysema, resulting in severe breathlessness, prolonged coughing and chronic disability. It may be caused by breathing in any fine dusts, including RCS. It can be very disabling and is a leading cause of death. Cigarette smoking can make it worse.
Lung cancer: Heavy and prolonged exposure to RCS can cause lung cancer.
When someone already has silicosis, there is an increased risk of lung cancer.
The health risks from RCS are insignificant when exposure to dust is adequately controlled – you do not need to become ill through work activities.
Occupational exposure to RCS can occur in many industries, including:
■ construction and demolition processes – concrete, stone, brick, mortar;
■ quarrying;
■ slate mining and slate processing;
■ potteries, ceramics, ceramic glaze manufacture, brick and tile manufacture;
■ foundries;
■ refractory production and cutting;
■ concrete product manufacture;
■ monumental and architectural masonry manufacture, stone fireplace and kitchen worktop manufacture;
■ grit and abrasive blasting, particularly on sandstone.
What should you do?
Your employer must tell you about the risks from RCS, and how to avoid them.
Make sure you understand what you have to do and do it.
You should:
■ ask if the material you are using, or dust from the work you are doing, contains silica;
■ ask how the job should be done safely, without creating risks to your health;
■ follow all safe working procedures, including cleaning procedure;
■ use controls such as dust extraction as you were trained to do;
■ wear protective clothing properly.
If you have to wear a respirator, make sure that:
■ you are wearing the right type of respirator for the job;
■ you have a face-fit test for a tight-fitting respirator, to ensure it fits properly –
you need to be clean shaven for this tight fit type of respirator to work
effectively;
■ you have been trained to use, check and clean the respirator;
■ the filters or disposable respirators are changed regularly;
■ the equipment is stored in a clean, dust-free place;
■ you tell your supervisor or employer if you find any defects, or your respirator does not fit, is dirty or its filter is old – your employer must put it right.
Precautions
When drilling stone or brick; dust mask protection MUST be worn along with safety glasses.
Where possible use a dust extraction unit connected to the drill.
When disc cutting stone or brick; dust protection MUST be worn along with safety glasses.
The use of dust extraction or wetting the stone / brick with water to prevent the spread of dust is Compulsory.
Never blow or dry sweep dust; where possible use a vacuum cleaner or wet the dust with water.
PPE -
Hi vis vests (These should be clean and reflective strips still working)
Safety Boots (Metal toecaps should not be showing and soles should have no excessive wear)
Gloves (These should be clean and free from excessive wear, they should also be suitable for the task)
Dust masks (These should be clean and any nose forming strips be in place. If disposable throw away after one use)
Safety goggles/glasses (Check that lenses are free from excessive scratches. They should also be suitable for task)
Water or Dust extraction.
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I/we confirm we had read and understood the information within this toolbox talk.
I/we understand that any queries or questions I have will be raised with Line Manager or Health & Safety Manager -
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