Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
Gender equality
Practice meets perfect
May/June 2023 issue

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • News
COVID-19
Occupational cancer
Hazardous substances
Personal protective equipment
Construction

Dust blitz catches COVID breaches

Open-access content Friday 30th October 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 2 years old.
Site workers are confusing RPE and PPE, dust blitz finds

iStock

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) month-long initiative inspecting respiratory risks and occupational lung disease in the construction sector has revealed some workers are confused between RPE and PPE, the regulator has confirmed.

Though the inspection programme, which ran throughout October, examines respiratory risks and occupational lung disease, especially asbestos (outside of licensed contractors), silica and wood dust, inspectors have also been checking whether firms are protecting their workers from the risk of coronavirus and if workplaces are COVID-secure.

'Inspections of this sort are not out of the ordinary for the sector,' said health and safety law expert Sean Elson of law firm Pinsent Masons. 'This is continuing evidence of the drive in relation to occupational health and respiratory conditions in particular. What is interesting is that the HSE as the COVID regulator has flagged that [it] will be using this programme to look at how dutyholders are managing the COVID-19 risk at a project level. The HSE will be keen to show that it is taking action in relation to the pandemic and playing its part in employers taking adequate measures.'

'RPE should be fit for purpose – use the right equipment for the right job'

In response, an HSE spokesperson told IOSH magazine: 'These [respiratory risks] are mature health topics that the industry should now be managing accordingly,' but added: 'This year, we have also included COVID in the initiative as a very current issue for the construction Industry and all inspections include a COVID-19 spot check. Getting COVID controls right is critical to the industry continuing to operate and for people to work safely.'

Overall findings from the inspection initiative show that most construction dutyholders understand and implement COVID-secure arrangements on their sites, the HSE confirmed, with inspectors giving verbal advice, mainly on social distancing and welfare requirements.

'HSE inspectors have reported some workers on site using face coverings meant to stop the spread of COVID being used to protect against exposure to dust. They are keen to make the point that face coverings or disposable face coverings are not RPE and that RPE should be fit for purpose – use the right equipment for the right job,' added the spokesperson.

There were two construction-specific respiratory risk inspection initiatives in 2019 accompanied by awareness raising activity through HSE’s Go Home Healthy campaign, as well as promoting key messages. Those initiatives built on previous work going back several years and engagement with wider industry initiatives such as IOSH's No Time to Lose campaign and the BOHS' Breathe Freely initiative.

The inspection initiative ends today (30th October). The HSE will analyse its findings, including details of overall compliance, actions taken and lessons learned.

You may also be interested in...

Ministers taken to court over gig workers' legal rights

 Union fights for judicial review over protection of gig workers during the pandemic

Friday 23rd October 2020
A trade union took the UK government to court this week over gig economy workers being denied basic PPE and health protections during the pandemic.
Open-access content
Survey of doctors’ mental health

 Almost half of doctors’ mental health has worsened since COVID-19, study reveals

Wednesday 28th October 2020
A study by the British Medical Association has revealed the toll the pandemic has taken on healthcare workers.
Open-access content
The United Nations (UN) is calling on private sector employers to put in place measures that help prevent domestic abuse and invest resources that better protect and support employees who are victims of domestic abuse.

 COVID-19 a ‘perfect storm’ for domestic abuse

Monday 2nd November 2020
The United Nations (UN) is calling on private sector employers to put in place measures that help prevent domestic abuse and invest resources that better protect and support employees who are victims of domestic abuse.
Open-access content
Concrete pump boom struck worker

 Worker struck by concrete pump boom

Friday 6th November 2020
A Brighton construction firm has been convicted of CDM breaches after an employee was struck by the placing boom of a concrete pump, causing serious injuries.
Open-access content
Council’s fine over teacher’s assault cut due to COVID

 Cash-strapped council’s fine over teacher’s assault cut due to COVID

Tuesday 20th October 2020
A judge has slashed a cash-strapped council’s safety fine by more than half in recognition of the impact of COVID-19.
Open-access content
A leading lawyer clarifies the position after questions were raised as to how employers, already under pressure from the effects of the pandemic, should interpret reporting requirements.

 COVID-19: updated reporting guidance for employers

Tuesday 10th November 2020
A leading lawyer clarifies the position after questions were raised as to how employers, already under pressure from the effects of the pandemic, should interpret reporting requirements.
Open-access content
Topics
News
COVID-19
Occupational cancer
Hazardous substances
Personal protective equipment
Construction
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Health and Safety Improvement Manager

Leeds
£35000 - £50000 per annum
Reference
5452992

SHEQ Systems Advisor

Up to £40000.00 per annum + Car Allowance
Reference
5452988

Senior Health and Safety Manager

Reading
Up to £65000.00 per annum + Great Car Allowance & Benefits
Reference
5452983
See all jobs »

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2023 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ