Health & Safety Risk Management System

H10 - Respirable Crystaline Silica

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Silica dust has the potential to be one of the industry’s long-term health concerns. However, if correctly controlled the effects on employees, contractors and visitors can be minimal.

This procedure will help you understand how silica affects the human body and the mechanism of harm that can occur. It outlines what to consider when undertaking a risk assessment and lists some typical areas of risk.

There is a list of duties for your employees and a section that explains your duties to comply with the social dialogue agreement.

Finally it can often take many years for exposure to silica to manifest itself into obvious symptoms. It is important to minimise all exposure but health screening can identify symptoms at a very early stage and the removal from exposure can stop further harm. There is a brief outline of health screening measures that will help identify workers at risk.

Comments

razzledazzle
20 Oct 2009 - 13:48

Good afternoon,
I am new to the comment box. My question is what type of filters are put into quarry operational machinery to reduce the silica levels within the cabs, and at what frequency should they be changed.

Trans Elektro
30 Mar 2010 - 13:32

Hello,
Silica is a dangerous substance that causes cancer. Optimal protection by a filtersystem with P3 filters, controller, proper installation with cabin sealing is therefore needed. We are manufacturor of these systems with decades of experience for filtersystems to be used in this, or any another (potential) toxic environment. Original cabin filter will NOT filter these small particles. These (toxic) parts will ge through and will penetrate in the cabin and lungs of the driver.