Roofing

Health & Safety
Understanding the Dangers of Silica Dust
James Miller, General Manager at Dustcontrol UK, here discusses the main challenges and solutions to this
potentially lethal risk to roofers’ health.
Symptoms usually appear only after prolonged exposure,
however, once they start, the disease invariably progresses.
And it only takes a small amount of silica dust to cause health
problems.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), estimates that there
are around 500 silica-related deaths in the UK every year. The
risks posed by silica are not just limited to specific job roles or
niche on-site activities, even simple tasks, such as dry
sweeping and disposing of cement bags, can send silica
particles into the air.
The HSE recommends that businesses take a proactive
approach to minimizing exposure, and controlling and
managing the risk posed by dust. The best way to do this is to
install extraction and filtration equipment.
Most Efffective
On-tool extraction has been proven to be the most effective
method when it comes to stemming the flow of dust migration
and settlement, as extracting at the source limits the chance
of dust particles escaping into the atmosphere.
Extraction units are defined by class. In regards to silica, the
HSE recommends the use of a Medium (M) class or High (H)
class. H class units offer the highest degree of filtration – with
a filter leakage of less than 0.005% – making it the most
effective option in targeting respirable dusts with carcinogenic
properties.
Airborne dusts are the primary cause of respiratory illnesses in a wide range
of industries, including roofing and construction. The World Health
Organisation (WHO) ranks dust-related illnesses as among the UK’s biggest
workplace hazards, and major killers, when it comes to occupational health.
In roofing, one of the most significant and concerning issues is that of silica
dust. Silica is a natural substance found in a variety of raw materials, such as
slate, tiles, granite and brick. The presence of silica itself is not a concern,
however, when these materials are treated (drilled, cut, sanded or blasted)
fine dust particles can become airborne. These microscopic particles, called
Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), can make their way deep into workers’
lungs if inhaled, especially likely if work is taking place in enclosed
environments. Different materials contain different amounts of silica, for
example, concrete tiles can comprise between 25-75%, and slate 30%. Even
short periods of roof tile cutting can create high levels of silica dust.
The inhalation of silica dust particles can be particularly hazardous to
long-term health. Silica dust can lead to a condition known as silicosis, in
which scarring occurs in the lungs and breathing becomes difficult. It is also
a well-known carcinogen, and a contributing cause of lung cancer.
The use of H class systems not only offer greater protection
against RCS, but those specifically developed for the
construction industry, such as those with primary separation
by cyclone and cartridge filters, can help prevent tools
clogging up and provide more consistent performance. These
machines are also less likely, due to their higher specification
of containment, to suffer major accidental dust leakage.
There are some roofing businesses that are unsure as to what
they should be doing and what equipment they should be
using, and some may not even be aware they have an issue.
Part of the problem is that roofing work is so varied. Stripping
and re-roofing buildings can involve many different types of
materials, from installing shingles, slate, asphalt and tiles;
repairing asbestos cement roofs; cutting wooden battens; to
insulating roof spaces. It can, therefore, involve exposure to
many different harmful substances which might generate
hazardous dusts. The biggest respiratory health risks for
roofers, after asbestos, are from silica. It is not an option to
ignore these risks, but help is available.
Dustcontrol UK offers free dust assessments, designed to
help educate businesses on the necessary steps they need
to be taking regarding dust extraction. The aim is to
improve working conditions, remove potential health hazards
and encourage ‘healthy business’. Visit
www.dustdoctors.co.uk .
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