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
Readjusting the Lens: How to protect the psychosocial wellbeing of staff
Feel the Noise: The silent cost of hearing loss
Download the Jan/Feb 2021 Issue: Read the digital edition here

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
  • 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
      • 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
    • 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
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Interactive
    • Podcast
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • 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
    • 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
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
  • 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
    • Sector: 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
  • Sector: Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Sector: 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
  • Topics
  • Health
  • Occupational cancer
  • Hazardous substances
Leadership
IOSH News

Become a ‘sung hero’ by protecting workers from silica dust

Open-access content 3rd June 2016

Members of IOSH Midland Branch show their support for IOSH's No Time to Lose campaign

The message came during the first in a new series of joint presentations by the institution, the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of IOSH's No Time to Lose campaign to raise awareness of occupational cancer.

Members of the IOSH Midland Branch were told of the health risks related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), the role of occupational hygiene in protecting workers and provided with practical advice and guidance on controlling exposure.

John Lacey, a former IOSH president, spoke about the institution's efforts to work with professionals, businesses and other organisations to cast a spotlight on silica dust through No Time to Lose.

He said: "I've been involved in construction and safety and health for two-thirds of my life and silica has always been an issue, but little known as regards its effects.

"There's been a cross-industry approach to tackling this vast issue. You (IOSH members) are very much involved in carrying IOSH's campaign and its messages forward.

"It is a great opportunity for you to not be the unsung heroes, but 'sung' heroes who are working to stop people from suffering the ill-effects of breathing in silica dust."

As well as causing breathing problems such as silicosis, research has shown that around 800 people in Britain a year die from lung cancer caused by prolonged exposure to RCS at work, with 900 new cases being diagnosed annually.

Dr Sean Mahar, of BOHS, emphasised the need for practitioners to recognise, evaluate and control the risks.

He said: "Silica is ubiquitous. Trying to see where the potential of a problem exists is an important part of our work.

"The important bit then is to be able to evaluate that and offer control solutions."

Examples of good and bad practice around silica dust exposure were highlighted by Mark Flynn of the HSE.

He said it was important that professionals "don't jump to the end" of the hierarchy of control by simply offering workers dust masks or other respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to wear while working with products which contain silica.

"There is a lot you can do before reaching for RPE -- design out the risk, substitute products used, use engineering controls and water suppression, or on-tool and localised extraction of dust. Think about all of these things before RPE," he said.

"Controlling dust is a difficult sell at times because it is not like a safety hazard -- a broken ladder or missing guard -- that is an instant thing. People might not realise that this is a health issue that is 20 to 30 years in the making."

The presentation, entitled 'Working together to beat occupational cancer -- spotlight on silica', was provided for IOSH Midland Branch members at a meeting in Birmingham on 2 June.

Branch Chair, Mohammed Basharat, said: "Whatever else comes from hearing the presentations, the one thing I want our members to take away is that they are not tackling this issue alone.

"There are so many people out there working in safety, health and wellbeing and we are all trying to protect workers. The fact we had three organisations come together and share their expertise with us is fantastic."

Full details about other upcoming joint presentations to IOSH networks can be found at www.notimetolose.org.uk/NTTLevents.

Topics:
Hazardous substances
Leadership
IOSH News
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Fire Safety Advisor

England, London
£35000 - £40000 per annum + plus excellent benefits package
Reference
5447893

Fire Safety Manager

London, England
Up to £50000 per annum + plus excellent benefits package
Reference
5447892

Health and Safety Manager

London, England
Up to £50000 per annum + plus excellent benefits
Reference
5447891
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

Copyright © 2021 IOSH. IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites.