WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DUST

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers have a responsibility, as far as is reasonably practicable, to keep their workers not only safe, but healthy as well.

This means thinking about how risks like dust can be managed or eliminated entirely. An emerging concern in the industry is Silica dust of a size that can be breathed deep into the lungs. This is known as ‘Respirable Crystalline Silica’ or RCA. Fortunately, with some care, this can be controlled or even eliminated – and we can help you do that.

Silica is a natural mineral which is found in rocks, sand and clay. It is thus found in bricks and concrete too. A small fraction of Silica occurs in a sharp, hard crystalline form. Particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter can be breathed directly into the lungs and can cause damage leading to Silicosis. This is called ‘Respirable Crystalline Silica’ or RCS.