What Employers Need to Know.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its guidance on health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a fine dust generated during common industrial and construction processes that can lead to silicosis, a serious and irreversible lung disease.
The refreshed guidance highlights the importance of early detection through risk-based health surveillance and clarifies the legal duties employers have under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.
Respirable crystalline silica is a fine dust released when materials like stone, concrete, brick, tile, and ceramics are cut, ground, drilled, or polished. The particles are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs, potentially causing long-term health damage.
Over time, exposure to RCS can cause silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. These diseases may not present symptoms immediately, which is why regular monitoring through health surveillance is crucial.
What has been updated?
What has been updated?
The updated publication, Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (G404), has been refreshed to:
- Emphasise that health surveillance must be provided where there is a reasonable likelihood that silicosis could develop.
- Clarify that worktop manufacturing and installation are specifically recognised as high-risk occupations.
- Reinforce that health surveillance is not optional: it is required under COSHH where workers are exposed to hazardous substances like RCS.
- Encourage employers to consult with occupational health professionals to identify when surveillance is necessary, especially in cases where overexposure has already occurred.
Who is at risk?
While the guidance calls out worktop manufacturing and installation as key examples, exposure to RCS can occur across a wide range of industries and job roles.
While the guidance calls out worktop manufacturing and installation as key examples, exposure to RCS can occur across a wide range of industries and job roles.
This is not an exhaustive list, but examples of higher-risk activities include:
- Cutting, drilling, or polishing granite, marble, or quartz worktops.
- Cutting or sanding brick, tile, or concrete.
- Working with ceramic materials in manufacturing or construction.
- Demolition or refurbishment activities involving masonry.
- Drycut saw operation in construction or landscaping.
- Foundry work, especially sand casting.
- Quarrying and mining.
- Tunnel construction or rock excavation.
If any of these tasks are carried out regularly, or if there is a risk of prolonged exposure to silica dust, employers must consider the need for health surveillance.
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