HSE construction dust control ‘blitz’ starts
Regulator inspections will check health taken as seriously as safety
HSE has announced on Twitter and Facebook (20/09/18) that inspectors are visiting construction sites throughout October 2018 to “see if health is being taken as seriously as safety”.
Inspectors will be focusing on “builders’ lungs” and the regulator is therefore advising all to read the relevant HSE guidance in order to “know the risk, plan your work and use the right controls”.
The project inspections will be conducted nationwide with enforcement action likely when ‘material breaches’ of legal duties are found.
The HSE website also contains useful Guidance to Inspectors on:
“Inspecting and enforcing where inadequate standards of control are found for construction dust risks. It focuses on common tasks, prioritising those with the potential for significant exposure / risk of ill-health.”
Diseases cause permanent disability
The HSE guidance stresses that:
“Regularly breathing construction dust can cause diseases like lung cancer, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and silicosis. Construction workers have a high risk of developing these diseases because many common construction tasks can create high dust levels.
These diseases cause permanent disability and early death. Over 500 construction workers are believed to die from exposure to silica dust every year.”
Arco Professional Safety Services can offer many different respiratory services to help combat the issue of lung problems when working with dust.
Breathing Apparatus User Course
Course Aim:
Breathing Apparatus is a protective measure used to protect the user against an atmosphere containing toxic gases, vapours or particulates as well as atmospheres where oxygen concentration will not support human respiration. Specialist training and assessment is required to equip those undertaking this type of work with the necessary skills and competencies to work safely in an atmosphere where these hazards are prevalent.
•Follow procedures regarding the carriage and use of Self Contained Open Circuit (SCOC) breathing apparatus.
•Confirm the suitability of the SCOC breathing apparatus for the task.
•Carry out pre-use safety and user tests to confirm the SCOC breathing apparatus and its fit comply with current legislation, manufacturers’ specifications and approved codes of practise.
•Resolve any problems with the SCOC breathing apparatus and report non-conformities.
•Fit and adjust the designated SCOC breathing apparatus.
•Wear the designated SCOC breathing apparatus to perform the task.
•Carry out after use checks on the SCOC breathing apparatus
•Store SCOC breathing apparatus in designated storage facility
Face Fit Testing
We provide a Fit2Fit accredited service, carrying out face fit tests for clients throughout the UK, either at your premises or one of our training or satellite centres.
If you wear a mask at work that relies on making a seal with your face then you need a face fit test.