Controlling Exposures to Prevent occupational lung disease in the construction industry

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2 Managing Health in Construction What Good Looks Like Mike Slater Diamond Environmental Ltd. BOHS Immediate Past President 2015/16

3 s worker is exposed to dust containing silica that presents a serious risk to his health rkers regularly exposed to silica containing dust can develop serious lung diseases licosis ng cancer ronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease (COPD) struction workers have a high risk of developing these diseases because ny common construction tasks can create high dust levels.

4 How many construction workers died last year due to their exposure to silica dust? a) 25 b) 100 c) 500 d) 5000

5 How many construction workers died last year due to their exposure to silica dust? Controlling Exposures to a) 25 b) 100 c) 500 d) 5000

6 Over 500 workers believed to die from exposure to silica dust every year

7 About new occupational cancer cases in construction every year

8 cases of work-related ill health

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10 Wellbeing Risk Prevention & Control Health Surveillance

11 Wellbeing Health Surveillance Some employers are now starting to pay attention to occupational health but think it is about wellbeing and health surveillance

12 Wellbeing Risk Prevention & Control Health Surveillance But effective risk prevention and control is the key to protecting the health of construction workers

13 Occupational Hygiene Recognise Evaluate Control Occupational hygiene is the science and practice of achieving just that a healthy working environment

14 Occupational Hygiene Recognise Evaluate Control Recognising that there s a potential problem and evaluating the degree of risk are the first steps in this. They help to establish priorities

15 Occupational Hygiene Recognise Evaluate Control But they re a means to an end the end being effective control of the agents and other factors that create the risk

16 Prevention Engineering Work practices PPE There are many different measures that can be implemented. Some are more effective than others. This is the basis of the hierarchy of control

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18 The Beathe freely initiative has been launched by BOHS in conjunction with our partner organisations to raise awareness of the issues

19 Many materials used contain crystalline silic Regular exposure to high levels of dust containing respirable crystalline silica can cause silicosis and lung cancer

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22 But the health risks can be prevented or minimised b the use of some readily available controls

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24 Dust suppression using water

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26 Laboratory tests showed water suppression reduced dust levels by up to 99% Measurements of the E ectiveness of Dust Control on Cut-o Saws Used in the Construction Industry A. THORPE et al. Ann Occup Hyg Vol. 43, No. 7, pp. 443±456, 1999

27 On-tool extraction

28 On-tool extraction

29 Respirable Crystalline Silica concentrations were reduced by on-tool shrouds by 99% An Evaluation of On-Tool Shrouds for Controlling Respirable Crystalline Silica in Restoration Stone Work Catherine B. Healy et al. Ann Occup Hyg 2014;58:

30 A secondary water flow provided a fan-shaped water curtain sprayed normal to the path of the ejected stone dust. Jared H. Cooper et al. Ann Occup Hyg 2015;59: The Author Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

31 Carpenters and joiners are likely to be exposed to wood dust

32 All types of wood dust can cause occupational asthma Exposure to many hard wood dusts is also associated with nasal cancer

33 ool extraction is a practical solution on truction sites

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35 Sweeping can lead to high dust exposures

36 Use portable vacuums instead

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38 But make sure they are Type H or Type M Controlling Exposures to units to stop dust escaping through the filter

39 Working with cement can lead to dermatitis and other skin problems

40 Using simple tools can minimise skin contact

41 Hand held drills lead to exposure to noise and vibration

42 Here s one solution

43 The Barbican in London Brutalist architecture with lots of concrete

44 The rough surface was created manually

45 Using tools such as..

46 Bush Hammers Controlling Exposures to

47 that would have created a lot of dust Controlling Exposures to

48 Designers need to consider health risks to workers

49 BOHS is working on guidance for designers prevent health risks by design and working methods

50 Crossrail have taken an integrated approach to health risk management

51 This case study is featured on the Breathe Freely website

52 Crossrail Control Solutions Material substitution and process modifications Engineering controls Administrative controls RPE Monitoring

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54 What can YOU do?

55 What can you do? Become an official campaign supporter

56 What can you do? Help us develop case studies and good practice examples

57 What can you do? Spread the word

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59 Join us and be part of the solution