Silica - It s Not Just Dust! Craig Chisholm

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1 Silica - It s Not Just Dust! Craig Chisholm Compliance Manager John McQuillan (Contracts) Ltd

2 Silica it s not just Dust Agenda European Social Dialogue Agreement 2012 Update What is silica and where is it found What are the human exposure limits? How can it be controlled?

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4 Social Dialogue Agreement Update reported employees as % 2010 MPA Overall 177% BPCF 216% MPA Aggregates 123% BLA 117% MPA CEMENT 110% SAMSA 107% MIA 104% NOTES: 0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% It is estimated that for MPA Aggregates the specific request for inclusion of office employees raised the reporting figures by 20%. The known decrease in numbers employed over the period was more than offset by additional reporting new members, additional reporting in Northern Ireland and the correction of an under-report in GB from one significant employer re sites that had zero potential exposure to RCS.

5 Social Dialogue Agreement Update Employees reported BPCF 6012 MPA Aggregates 9146 BLA 293 MPA CEMENT 2180 SAMSA 354 MIA ,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000

6 Social Dialogue Agreement Update 2012

7 Social Dialogue Agreement Update 2012

8 Social Dialogue Agreement Update 2012

9 Silica it s not just Dust - Social Dialogue Agreement - Update European Level Agreement and look for or

10 Silica it s not just Dust - What is silica? Two of the most common elements on earth silicon and oxygen; Combined with other elements, such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium and potassium, form silicates; Silicates are the most abundant group of naturally occurring minerals and rocks; When only silicon and oxygen are combined, the mineral silica (commonly called quartz crystal) is formed. quartz beach sand quartz crystal

11 Silica it s not just Dust - What is silica? Silica may be free, in which case only silicon and oxygen is present, or combined, in which other minerals are present; Silica is found naturally in almost all rock, sand and soil; Also found in concrete products and bricks; If dust given off when working with crystalline silica is fine enough it is termed respirable crystalline silica (RCS). quartz beach sand quartz crystal

12 Silica it s not just Dust - What is silica? Example Although respirable crystalline silica is present in concrete, bricks and rocks, it is not really a significant hazard; However, once you start to break up the concrete, brick or rock, the dust given off will contain crystalline silica that is now airborne and can be inhaled.

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14 Silica it s not just Dust - What are the human exposure limits? The safest amount of silica in the air is zero; Employers must comply with COSHH or 2011 Chemical Agents CoP; You need to find out how much silica workers are being exposed to. If you are unsure, you need to arrange for exposure measurements; Make sure exposure to RCS is below the current Exposure Limit of 0.1 mg/m 3. based on an 8-hour time-weighted average Rule-of thumb If dust containing silica is visible in the air, it s almost certainly over the permissible limit.

15 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices The main instrument for the Agreement is the Good Practice Guide, includes: introduction on crystalline silica; risk assessment procedure, and a; series of Task Sheets providing guidance on ways of reducing exposure to RCS. or

16 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? identify RCS presence In the materials / process Ask 2 Questions: Is crystalline silica present or generated? Are fine particles present or generated?

17 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? Monitor RCS level at the workplace Assessment of personal exposure to RCS IDENTIFY Concerned Substances & processes Workers exposed Locations, circumstances, frequency, duration of exposure Existing control measures CARRY OUT Personal exposure monitoring See Annex 2 Dust monitoring protocol COMPARE Your results to relevant exposure limit See Good Practice Guide Annex 1

18 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? If Exposure to RCS is NOT detected Exposure to RCS is detected, but after assessment of personal exposure there is no potential for personal exposure levels to exceed the national levels and dust control measures already satisfy the general prevention objectives Document your findings (Continue to) Apply general prevention principles Provide appropriate training to the workforce Keep the situation under review in case things change

19 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? If Exposure to RCS IS detected and personal exposure levels might exceed the national level and / or dust control measures do not satisfy the general prevention objective Implement additional control measures using the Task sheets provided in Part 2 of the GPG as an illustration of Good Practices Apply general Prevention Principles including appropriate training to the workforce Document your findings

20 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices Substitution: taking into account economic, technical and scientific criteria, replace a dust-generating process with a process generating less dust (e.g. use of a wet process instead of a dry process, or an automated process instead of a manual process); Provision of engineering controls: de-dusting systems (dust suppression1,collection2 and containment3) and isolation techniques4; Good housekeeping practices;

21 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices Work pattern: establish safe working procedures, job rotation; Personal protective equipment: provide protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment; Education: provide adequate health and safety training to the workers, information and instructions specific to their job.

22 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices - Practical Measures Sites should consider taking appropriate measures to minimise and where possible prevent the release of RSC. Measures to be considered include: Plumbed-in industrial vacuum equipment

23 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices - Practical Measures Sites should consider taking appropriate measures to minimise and where possible prevent the release of RSC. Measures to be considered include: Provision & maintenance of high quality seals and efficient dust extraction

24 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices - Practical Measures Sites should consider taking appropriate measures to minimise and where possible prevent the release of RSC. Measures to be considered include: Optimising containment of dust during powder transfers

25 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices - Practical Measures Sites should consider taking appropriate measures to minimise and where possible prevent the release of RSC. Measures to be considered include: Provision of standalone dust extraction for separate buildings

26 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? European Legal Agreement Good Practices - Practical Measures Sites should consider taking appropriate measures to minimise and where possible prevent the release of RSC. Measures to be considered include: Customised well maintained atomised dust suppression

27 Silica Personal Protection Respirators must be used if silica dust can t be controlled with water, extraction or ventilation Air-purifying respirator with dust cartridge Supplied air respirator

28 Silica it s not just Dust - How can it be controlled? When dust is controlled, exposures are low; When dust is uncontrolled, exposures are high; Many exposures are for short time periods, but at very high concentrations; Short, high exposure can still exceed permissible limits and cause lung damage.

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30 Thank You Any Questions