Dust to Dust

On 7 Nov 19 days Silica is found in many common construction materials, and the HSE ranks it second only to asbestos as a health risk to construction workers.

With a parliamentary inquiry underway and a new register launched, companies are under increasing pressure to take action. Emma Crates reports

Look for silica and you’ll find it almost everywhere. It’s in rocks, sand, clays and gravel. Not surprisingly, it is a major component of many construction materials, including bricks, tiles, concrete and mortar.

But the substance is increasingly being seen as the new asbestos, due to the threat it poses to workers in many sectors, including mining, ceramics, foundry work, quarrying and construction.

Silica poses no risk as part of a finished product. But everyday activities, such as cutting, grinding, polishing or drilling, can generate a very fine dust – respirable crystalline silica (RCS).