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March/April 2023 issue

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Pledge to tackle silica dust made at IOSH roundtable event

Open-access content Monday 14th March 2016
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

The roundtable discussion was held at The Shard. Image credit: © Steve Burden Photography

Experts from across UK industry have agreed to work collaboratively with IOSH to develop a new way of sharing good practice around tackling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure across industry.

It follows a roundtable discussion at The Shard, in London, which was held to coincide with the launch by IOSH of new guidance for businesses on the issue of RCS.

Representatives from the Health and Safety Executive, the Office of Road and Rail (ORR), the Mineral Products Association and Unite the Union took part in proceedings. Experts working in industry, including a representative from Crossrail Ltd, were also present.

Shelley Frost, executive director of policy at IOSH, said: "Dust is not just dust -- it can contain elements that are potentially harmful and can cause chronic ill health.

"We brought together people from very different disciplines so we could really establish a collaborative and collective approach on raising awareness of RCS, and also address some of the current issues.

"What was really clear is there are many examples of good practice across industry and that should be celebrated. Our responsibility is to break down the barriers that exist in sharing this across all industry."

According to Imperial College London research, around 800 people in Britain a year die from lung cancer caused by prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at work, with 900 new cases being diagnosed annually.

Kevin Stevens, health and safety manager at the Mineral Products Association, said much work to prevent RCS exposure has been done in his sector that other industries could learn from.

He said: "Silica dust is one of the oldest occupational health diseases we know of. The common challenge across industry is about educating individuals of the issue.

"Without question the information is out there but we need to make sure it is shared among all those who require it."

Dr Claire Dickinson, occupational health programme manager at the ORR, said awareness of RCS in the rail sector was growing, particularly around the use of track ballast.

More work needed to be done to highlight the issue to those working on other construction projects in the rail sector, she added.

"We really need to up our game at getting through to the managers and supervisors on track and working at station construction sites," she said.

IOSH has identified that a lack of understanding or awareness of silica dust as a hazard is a common cross-industry barrier to effective control of the issue.

Silica dust is one of five common agents associated with work-related cancer registrations and deaths in the UK that the institution is highlighting through its No Time to Lose occupational cancer campaign.

Asbestos, diesel engine exhaust fumes, solar radiation and shift work are also being highlighted as part of the campaign, which aims to get work-related cancer more widely understood and help businesses take action.

For more information about the campaign, and to download the free resources on RCS, visit www.notimetolose.org.uk or follow @_NTTL on Twitter.

You may also be interested in...

 Cross-industry push to combat cancer risk from dust

Monday 14th March 2016
Around 800 people in Britain a year die from lung cancer caused by prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at work, with 900 new cases being diagnosed annually.Experts from across UK industry are being brought together by IOSH in London today (Monday 14 March) to debate whether a more collaborative approach to tackling silica dust at work can make a difference.
Open-access content

 Abu Dhabi conference hears about occupational health risks

Thursday 17th March 2016
During a presentation at the Occupational Safety and Health Middle East (OSHME) conference, she examined risks such as mental health problems, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss and occupational diseases.She also spoke about the risk of occupational cancer and the work IOSH is doing on the issue with its No Time to Lose campaign.The biennial OSHME event is one of the region’s largest conferences and exhibitions dedicated to safety and health issues.
Open-access content

 Book early for IOSH 2016 early-bird offer

Wednesday 9th March 2016
About 200 people have already registered for IOSH 2016, which takes place at London ExCeL from 21-22 June.The conference theme will be ‘Influential leadership: delivering impact – sustaining change’. It will be the third and final part of a series of IOSH international conferences on the theme of leadership.Delegates who register before Friday 18 March will receive up to £100 off their tickets.Shelley Frost, executive director of policy at IOSH, said the event will be invaluable for delegates.
Open-access content

 Hair and beauty businesses presented with IOSH guides

Thursday 24th March 2016
The Safe Start Up guides, produced by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), are aimed at people who are setting up a new business or those with an already-established business who want to ensure they are meeting requirements.They provide generic cross-industry information on safety and health responsibilities, as well as sector-specific details.
Open-access content
Farm safety is one of the key themes of IOSH Northern Ireland Branch's 50th anniversary year

 Work cancers and farm safety focus as IOSH Northern Ireland marks 50th anniversary

Thursday 3rd March 2016
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) wants its milestone year to help businesses take steps to prevent people being killed, injured or suffering ill health as a result of their work.Twenty-three workers died in Northern Ireland in 2014/15, including nine people who were employed in the agriculture and five in construction.
Open-access content
©HSE

 Managers and OSH professionals key to promoting workplace health and wellbeing

Tuesday 1st March 2016
A seminar hosted by IOSH’s Midland Branch East District heard that promoting worker wellbeing, tackling the causes of work-related ill health and supporting employees with mental health problems can all help businesses to create a healthier world of work.A total of 9.9 million working days were lost across Britain in 2014-15 due to stress, anxiety and depression, with workload pressures and a lack of managerial support among the common causes.
Open-access content

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 Blueprint: new plans and opportunities

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