Working Together to Tackle Workplace Dust

21 December, 2015

First published in the December 2015 issue of Quarry Management as Quarries Partnership Team

How the QPT is bringing together key stakeholders in a bid to tackle workplace dust

Silica is a natural mineral present in varying amounts in materials such as sand, sandstone and granite. When these materials are crushed or abraded during quarrying and associated mineral processing activities, very fine airborne dusts may be generated, including respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which is recognized as a significant cause of silicosis and other lung diseases. Quarrying is a complex, high-energy industry with many opportunities for airborne dust, including RCS, to be created and it is important to apply dust-control measures to prevent or minimize exposure wherever possible.

Everyone involved in quarrying has a role to play in reducing exposure to dust and so the Quarries Partnership Team (QPT) was set up to bring together key stakeholders from industry, the HSE, trade associations, trade unions and training providers to work with one another to achieve this goal. The QPT’s aim is to reduce the risk of quarry workers developing lung disease by raising awareness of the health risks, improving workers knowledge of dust and promoting good working practices.

The scope of the QPT includes:

Focusing on exposure to workplace dust regardless of its mineral content.
Identifying and working with those in the quarrying industry who are best placed to promote successfully key messages on controlling and reducing dust exposure.
Developing ideas, planning and delivering activities to improve both employers and employees knowledge about exposure to dust and to share, promote and encourage good working practices.

Martin Isles, health and safety special advisor to the Mineral Products Association (MPA), said: ‘The QPT is a shining example of willing practical co-operation between a broad range of stakeholders in addressing one of the quarrying industry’s key occupational health issues.’

Over the last few years QPT members have successfully worked together to identify and agree key issues, prioritize areas for action and develop tools and materials to raise awareness and change behaviours. Individually, QPT members also host roadshows, safety days and run internal training sessions to encourage a change in how dust-generating activities are dealt with at all levels.

The resources produced so far by the QPT and its members include posters, leaflets, a toolbox talk entitled ‘Dust – Are you in control?’, and RCS guidance on controlling workplace dust. All of these, together with other useful resources, can be found on the QPT homepage, which is hosted by the MPA on its safequarry.com website at: www.safequarry.com/qpt.aspx

The QPT also commissioned the production of an award-winning animated film, ‘Stop dust before it stops you’, to highlight the long-term health risks that can be caused by inhaling dust and to show quarry workers how they can protect themselves. The short film tells the story of an animated character, George, who ignores advice and is exposed to hazardous workplace dust. George’s story is intercut with real-life footage that guides workers on the simple steps they can take to prevent their exposure to dust. With a little touch of humour, the film demonstrates, in a new and engaging way, how simple changes in behaviour when performing high-risk activities can control and reduce exposure, and encourages workers to think again about the way they work. The film has been used as a training aid by many organizations across the industry, and won the prestigious Occupational Health and Wellbeing award at the 2014 MPA annual health and safety awards. It can be viewed online.

The key message for supervisors, managers and workers in quarries is to focus on improving their understanding and the management of dust in the workplace and to…‘STOP dust before it stops you!’

For more information on QPT resources or to get involved in the work of the QPT, contact Marie Warburton at: marie.warburton@hse.gsi.gov.uk