HSE Offering Construction Dust Seminar
About 500 workers in Britain die annually from the effects of inhaling dusts from concrete, wood, sandstone, gympsum, or sandstone.
Britain's Health and Safety Executive is hosting a free seminar on Sept. 20 to remind construction employers about the dangers of dust inhalation. HSE’s announcement stated about 500 workers die from the effects of inhaling dust from materials such as concrete, wood, mortar, gypsum or sandstone.
The seminar, organized by the Working Well Together group, will take place in Coalville, Leicestershire, to increase awareness among managers and supervisors about health effects associated with dusts, such as silicosis, and will focus on protective measures such as extraction systems, water suppression, and respiratory protection.
"Construction dust is not just a nuisance, it is a serious risk to workers' health," said Chris Lucas of HSE’s Health Risk Management Unit. He'll be speaking during the seminar. "Regularly breathing in even small amounts of dust over a long time can cause life-changing and life-threatening lung diseases, including cancer," he added. "Common jobs like cutting or grinding concrete, chasing out mortar, drilling in enclosed spaces or sanding wood can be high risk if not properly controlled."
For a free information sheet, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis36.htm.