M A N A G E M E N T O F R E S P I R A B L E C R Y S T A L L I N E S I L I C A ( R C S ) I N

C O N S T R U C T I O N

John Egan – Executive, Safety & Training, Construction Industry Federation

MSc., BSc(Hons)., PgDip.Env., Dip.Env., Cert.Eng., Cert.SHW., AIOSH

C O N S T R U C T I O N S E C T O R I N C O N T E X T :

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR – IN CONTEXTNDP: €116bn (2018-2027)

Current sector value: €20bn

Anticipated growth of 6% in 2019 / 4% in 2020 (11% in 2018)

The sector is on the rise (+1,000 jobs per month);

~150,000 Employees / 6% of workforce / 1:15 workers

How do we manage the health, safety and welfare issues arising from this growth?

CIF & CSPAC working groups with set objectives

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR – EMPLOYMENTNote: NDP / Residential demand / skills

Challenge: Rate of growth

Data Source: Labour Force Survey, CSO.

KEY CHALLENGES• How to manage the health, safety and welfare issues arising from growth?

• How to drive lean, clean construction methods?

• How to attract more persons into the sector?

• How to drive equality and gender balance throughout the sector?

•

https://cif.ie/building-equality/

C O N S T R U C T I O N S A F E T Y P A R T N E R S H I P A D V I S O R Y C O M M I T T E E ( C S P A C ) :

CSPAC’ 3-YEAR PLAN (2017-2019)

• The CSPAC has identified 6 key areas to focus on between 2017 and 2019 and has set objectives accordingly;

• Members work with a common goal of improving health, safety and welfare standards in the construction sector;

• Webpage: http://csponline.ie/

O B J E C T I V E 1 :TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR SMALL CONTRACTORS, THE SELF-EMPLOYED AND ALL WORKING ON SMALL PROJECTS

OBJECTIVE 1 - PROGRESS REPORT

• Partnered with the HSA in developing a course: ‘An Introduction to Construction Safety (for small contractors and the self-employed)’: https://hsalearning.ie/

• Developed the CIF Virtual Academy for provision of free, online CPD training materials: https://ciftraining.ie/

• Monthly webinars on topics of interest (e.g. mental health, intoxicant testing, protection from skin cancer)

• Provision of a portal for the sharing of Lessons Learned / Best Practice case studies: https://cif.ie/safety/

• Videos, Webinars and Posters developed for Construction Safety Week 2018: https://cif.ie/safety-week/

• Continued promotion of HSA’ BeSMART tool: https://www.besmart.ie/

• Rollout of the CIF’ Site Supervisor Safety Programme (SSSP): https://ciftraining.ie/

• Support of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) amongst small contractors and the self-employed mindful of the Construction Industry Register of Ireland (CIRI) register: https://www.ciri.ie/

PORTAL FOR SHARING LESSONS LEARNED / BEST CASE https://cif.ie/safety/

O B J E C T I V E 2 :TO IMPROVE AND PROMOTE SAFETY AND HEALTH INNOVATION IN THE SECTOR

OBJECTIVE 2 - PROGRESS REPORT

3x CSPAC Innovation in Safety Awards:

1. ‘Innovation in Safety - Design’

- 2018 Winner: Ward & Burke Construction Limited

2. ‘Innovation in Safety - Construction & Maintenance’

- 2018 Winner: BAM Building

3. ‘Innovation in Safety - Products and Services’

- 2018 Winner: Salus Training Services Limited

INNOVATION IN SAFETY – CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE2018 Winner: BAM Building• The BAM Ireland project team on the Blackpitts Hotel and Blackpitts Student

Accommodation projects undertook a pilot study to look at how the risk of workers being exposed to RCS dust could be eliminated as far as possible:

– Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to design out the hazard– Co-operation with designers at an early stage to allow for using products that

eliminated the production of RCS dust– Partnership approach with Hilti, tool supplier, where 95% of sub-contractors

purchased extraction units for their tools– Maintaining awareness, via site induction, RCS dust notice boards and regular talks

meant that all contractors were aware of the policies and procedures and the elimination of RCS became the acceptable norm

– Regular auditing of compliance– Using full face masks for RPE prevented inhalation of RCS dust, ensured eye

protection didn't steam-up and eliminated the need to be close shaven.

INNOVATION IN SAFETY – CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE

2018 Winner: BAM Building

O B J E C T I V E 4 :OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN CONSTRUCTION

OBJECTIVE 4 – PROGRESS REPORT

• Continued focus to raise awareness of risks from construction dusts and to promote safer work practices in the industry:

– Participation in Social Dialogue Workshops on RCS with FIEC & EFBWW

– Information pack on RCS developed for the construction sector

• Raise awareness of risks of other occupational related cancers such as the increased risk of skin cancer for outdoor workers

• Working group established to develop a mental health and wellbeing support solution for the sector.

M A N A G E M E N T O F R C S I N C O N S T R U C T I O N

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT RCS?1. What is RCS?

– Crystalline silica is a naturally occurring substance typically found in stone (particularly sandstone, shale, granite and slate), in sand and also in products such as bricks, tiles, concrete and cement. Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) occurs when these materials are worked on to release a very fine, inhalable dust.

2. How can a person be exposed to RCS?

– Where concrete, stone or sand based materials are altered (during formation, cutting, drilling, polishing or demolition) and made airborne, there is a potential for exposure to crystalline silica dust.

3. What are the routes of entry for RCS into the body?

– Inhalation is the primary route of exposure to crystalline silica dust.

– When any dust is inhaled, its point of deposition within the respiratory system is very much dependent upon the range of particle sizes present in the dust. The respirable fraction (smallest particle size) of crystalline silica dust can penetrate deep into the lungs.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT RCS?4. What are the health impacts of exposure to RCS?

– Silica dust is only harmful when it is inhaled deep into the lungs. Inhalation of fine dust containing crystalline silica can cause silicosis of the lungs, which in severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal.

5. How can a worker prevent exposure to RCS?

– The respirable fraction of the dust is invisibly fine. Elimination and substitution of RCS containing materials, dust extraction and/or dust suppression are the primary measures advised to control potential exposure.

6. What Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) provides adequate protection?

– Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) should either be a FFP3 disposable respirator or a P3 particulate filter fitted to a half or full face mask to provide effective protection and be CE marked. RPE is selected as a control measure when engineering and work practice controls cannot maintain exposures at or below the OELV

• Industry Guidance Manual for Addressing Potential Risks from Worker Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) on Construction Sites: https://cif.ie/safety/• Approach promoted by industry is to

manage all dusts, including but not limited to RCS• Manage dust of differing particle size:– Floating particles < 75 μm– Fine-grained dust < 5 μm– Visible dust > 20 μm

INDUSTRY GUIDANCE FOR RCS

EU GUIDANCE FOR INSPECTORATE

https://osha.europa.eu/en/guidance-national-labour-inspectors-on-addressing-risks-from-worker-exposure-to-respirable-crystalline-silica

Toolbox Talks developed for key work activities that have the potential to generate dust, including RCS.

TOOLS FOR TRAINING & AWARENESS

OCCUPATIONAL MONITORING FOR RCS

• OELV of 0.1mg/m3 (8 hour reference period), as set down in the HSA’ 2018 Code of Practice for the Chemical Agents Regulations

• Support for 2x MSc. students investigating exposure to RCS on construction sites

PREVALENCE & DURATION OF DUST• Dust remains airborne based on a number of factors, not least

particle size (e.g. concrete dust ~1-100 μm; human hair: 100 μm; tobacco smoke ~ 0.1-5 μm). • Assuming a fall height of 1-metre above ground, it would take the

following timeframes for dust to settle:

50 μm - 10 seconds10 μm - 5 minutes1 μm - 7 hours0.1 μm - more than 12 days

Source: Hilti On-Site Dust Solutions 2018

HSA’ INFORMATION SHEET

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Chemical_and_Hazardous_Substances/Silica_Dust_Information_Sheet.pdf

LEANER, CLEANER, SAFER WORK PRACTICESAdopt the Hierarchy of Control Measures: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Hazards/

• Avoid dry-sweeping;

• Select vacuums equipped with HEPA filtration (type-H);

• Prioritise dust extraction / containment mechanisms;

• Utilise appropriate dust suppression techniques;

• Adhere to collective protection measures.

LEANER, CLEANER, SAFER WORK PRACTICES

LEANER, CLEANER, SAFER WORK PRACTICES

T H A N K Y O U , A N Y Q U E S T I O N S ?