Marjory Mitchell HM Health and Safety Inspector (Occupational Hygiene) Duncan Smith HM Health and Safety Inspector (Occu

1. Silica Dust & the Cutting of Roof Tiles Marjory Mitchell HM Health and Safety Inspector (Occupational Hygiene) Duncan Smith HM Health and Safety Inspector (Occupational Hygiene)

2. How did we get here? • Construction Supply Chain Projects • kerb, paving and block cutting • Led to numerous queries about dust suppression in relation to roof tile cutting • Construction industry engagement on issue and solution: • Improve knowledge of health risks • Improve use of controls

3. What is the problem? Dust in general and Silica in particular Silica is one of the most abundant materials on earth Found in many materials used in construction: • Sandstone (>70%) • Brick and tiles (up to 30%) • Cement, mortar, concrete (25 to 70%) • Sand, gravel, flint (up to 70%)

4. Poor industry appreciation “It’s only dust you know!” Industry appreciation of the risk is poor: • People not aware of health risks • Underestimation of exposure levels • Require convincing that control measures work

5. Why is it a problem? Main concerns are: • Silicosis • Lung Cancer • Chronic lung diseases, emphysema, bronchitis, COPD. These diseases; • Cause reduced lung function • Continue to develop after exposure stops • Can cause death

6. Why is silica a problem? • Issue is Respirable Crystalline Silica or RCS • Respirable particles can penetrate to deep lung • Often invisible under normal conditions

7. The size of the problem? • Over 500 lung cancer deaths in 2004 related to past silica exposure in construction • Over 10 a week • Research suggests silica is the second most important cause of occupational lung cancer after asbestos

8. UK accident v ill health deaths Other non-malignant Respiratory Disease Respiratory Disease Asbestosis Fatal Injury COPD Cancer

9. Roof tiles Many of the issues discussed are relevant to the cutting of roof tiles: • Cutting tiles produces silica dust • Roofers will breathe this in and are therefore at risk • Control measures are required to protect their health

10. Why do we need to tackle this? • To protect people from suffering ill-health • Ensure consistency of approach by industry and the regulator • Improve industry image – considered dusty • Legal duty under COSHH to adequately control exposure

11. How much is a problem? COSHH sets Workplace Exposure Limits for dust: General Dust • 10 mg.m-3 (inhalable) • 4 mg.m-3 (respirable) Respirable Silica • 0.1 mg.m-3 (8-hour TWA)

12. Tile cutting tasks Cutting or grinding • High energy processes that generate high dust levels • When working on tiles the dust contains high level of RCS

13. Management controls Arrangements: • An assessment(s) of the risk • They have given appropriate information, instruction and training. • Arrangements for the maintenance, examination and testing of control measures • Effective supervision, monitoring and review • Slips, trips and working at height

14. Controls • On-tool extraction OR • Water suppression • RPE/PPE • Training + OR

15. Tile cutting interim control solutions • Wet Cutting = • Dedicated cutting area • Adequate supply of water • Scaffold board protection • Additional use of RPE

16. Interim arrangements for setting out the roof Plan the work area on the top lift of the scaffold • Locate away from the side of the building e.g. on a loading bay area • Use sheeting to control slurry runoff • Place sacrifical material between the tile and the scaffold board • Move controls (on-tool extraction or water suppression and RPE) onto the scaffold by mechanical lifting aids • Additional measures may be needed to prevent slips, trips and falls e.g. brick guards • Ensure that there are no other trades working in the vicinity

17. Interim control solutions • Verge and Ridge Tiles • Cut with water suppression on scaffolding • Hip Tiles • Rough cut in situ or with water suppression on scaffolding

18. Interim position • Valley Tiles • Cut in-situ using Protection Factor 20 RPE

19. Agreement on control solutions • Made explicit that any such agreement is only interim in nature. • Operational Guidance – SIM 02/2010/01

20. Control solutions Water Suppression

21. Control solutions Water Sources

22. Control solutions • Water Suppression has other advantages: • Extends the life of expensive diamond blades • Helps prevent build up of dust in the machine workings

23. Control solutions • Issues associated with water suppression use: • Marking the cut line • Slurry generation • Wet legs

24. Control solutions On-Tool LEV is also an option.

25. Looking into the crystal ball New innovations and new roofing systems

26. What about RPE? Powered Respirator with Hood Half Mask (with P3 Filter) PF = 20

27. Respiratory protective equipment Disposable FFP3 Protection Factor = 20

28. Correct Mask Type: FFP3 Manufacturer product no. Class of Respirator: FFP3 European Standard Conformity mark & Notified Body

29. Make sure it will work Must fit correctly – ‘Fit testing’ Be worn correctly

30. What other PPE? • Waterproofs • Coveralls

31. HSE’s enforcement expectations Exposure to RCS is considered to constitute a: ‘serious health effect’

32. No control = ENFORCEMENT * = Task Specific

33. More information • Operational Instructions on tile cutting http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sectors/construction/021001.htm • Time to Clear the air – free leaflet http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc830.pdf • Time to clear the air! Using cut-off saws for cutting kerbs and flag paving – DVD http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cleartheair/index.htm • RPE and Fit Testing http://www.hse.gov.uk/news/2009/fit-testing-poster.pdfhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/fittesting.pdf

34. Thank You Any Questions?