Dangers of dust in the workplace
Dangers of dust in the workplace
Millions of workers are at risk because of dust for two reasons;
the danger of combustion, and dust-related illness. Dust can
cause explosions if there is a concentration cloud of dust and a
source of ignition, and it is only through careful management
and risk-minimisation that there are relatively few injuries
caused in this way in the UK.
Dust-related illness is a much bigger problem for workers, and
has been found to be one of the largest occupational killers in
the UK. In 2003, there were around 4,000 deaths from industrial
illnesses caused by dust such as mesothelioma, asbestosis,
asbestos-related lung cancer, and silicosis.
Workplaces where dust may cause health problems These are some
of the places of work in which workers may be exposed to large
amounts of dust:
- Mines (coal dust)
- Quarries (silica dust and flint dust)
- Textiles (leather dust)
- Mills and bakeries (flour dust)
- Building sites (cement dust and asbestos dust)
- Agriculture (grain dust)
- Wood-related work (wood dust)
There are 65,000 people who work with flour who are thought to
be at significant risk of industrial illness as a result of poor
dust control. Over 70 bakeries have been served with notices to
improve working practices over the last 3 years as a result of
low levels of health and safety regulation compliance.
Dust-related illnesses Most dust-related industrial illnesses
take many years to develop, with people not realising they have
them for up to 40 or 50 years in some cases. Pneumoconiosis is
the name given to dust-related disease that affects the lungs,
of which there are a number, including silicosis and asbestosis.
Silicosis and asbestosis cause inflammation of the lungs and
scarring of lung tissue, and symptoms such as weight loss,
coughing, and severe breathing difficulties may also be present.
Other illnesses that can be caused by dust include:
- Skin conditions
- Eye damage
- Nose damage
- Cancer
- Asthma
How to reduce the risk of dust-related injuries and illnesses
The general health and safety regulations which protect
employees from dust include the Health and Safety at Work Act
1974, the Factories Act 1961, and the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988. There are other
regulations which may apply to specific industries, such as The
Coal Mines (Respirable Dust) Regulations 1975, that provide
extra protection for workers.
These are some ways in which employers can help make a cleaner,
healthier environment for their employees:
- Installing an exhaust ventilation system, where dust is
removed from the site of generation
- Installing a dilution ventilation system, where dust is spread
evenly throughout the area
- Ensuring employees wear proper protective clothing and are
aware of the importance of it. Nuisance dust masks are not
considered adequate protection by the Health and Safety
Executive, with respirators a much more effective solution
- Ensuring employees undergo regular health checks to pick up
any early signs of possible illness
What to do if you have been diagnosed with a dust-related
illness A compensation claim against your employer or former
employer may well be a possible option, and one that should be
explored within 3 years of diagnosis (or of the accident, in the
case of an explosion caused by dust).
Employers have a duty of care for those working for them, and if
they failed to ensure the well-being of staff and injury was
caused as a result, then it is likely the injured worker will be
entitled to compensation.
The first step to making a compensation claim is to obtain legal
advice from specialists in industrial illness and accident at
work compensation who will have experience and knowledge of
claims similar to yours. The legal advice should be free and
without obligation so you can make the decision of whether to
proceed with the claim.