a one for the health and safety experts

[brightspark]

what is the difference between not using sand for blasting as it will powder down and u can get silicosis but I've been drilling holes in cement walls for the last 45 years and that surely powders the sand down along with workers cutting concrete up in the streets with stihl saw . all that sand dust and no one bats an eyelid

 

[Welderpaul]

Depends which jobs you work on.

Most of the Main Contractors we work for we need to have Class M dust extraction vacuums, on-tool extraction, face fit masks.
And that's after we've proved we can't use shot-fired fixings or other means of fixing that means no drilling.
It's a good thing.

One of HSE's crack downs lately. Seen the fines that they are throwing out?

 

[brightspark]

apparently when glass is made it changes from as crystalline structure and is harmless apart from dust

 

[Parm]

Good question !!

The hazard from both situations is the same where there is risk of inhalation of silica may cause silicosis, however the risk factors from the same situations are worlds apart (sort of).

With sand blasting you are actively generating a massive airborne concentration of silica in a (usually) small contained area where the airborne particulate may be suspended for for long periods of time thus creating a big exposure risk. Even with all the full air fed RPE, the residual risk remains too high as there are elements of sandin blasting where RPE often isn't used, therefore the use of sand is prohibited as there are readily available safer alternatives to use. It's one of a few things specifically banned and mentioned in the COSHH Regs.

Now on to silica from construction materials and drilling holes is a whole different ball game. You can never be sure what the silica content is in differing materials so a fairly relaxed approach has been taken in the past. It's well know that silica can be present and is often liberated as a fine respirable dust when using any powered cutting equipment. Recently there has been a number of initiatives to improve matters in the construction industry as this is seem as the last of the old dinasours. To this end the medical guidance on silica screening has been tightened up and chest x Rays for control and diagnosis are to be performed more often. Also now the HSE are taking a much more proactive stance as technology has realy improved and there are systems available that are built in or can be retro fitted to control dust. As it's now much easier to effect control of dust there is much more requirement to have them in place. Additional the SAFETY bit is well understood and managed so this ties in with the HEALTH element where there are a number of proactive campaigns in place to reduce certain types of work place exposures, silica and cancer are two current examples and isocyanates will be next.

So, silica from construction activity has always been dangerous, but now we have technology to effectively control, so the HSE are proactively policing and issuing huge fines if they have to or can.

As an example ive been part of a team putting together a tender for HS2, my services have been employed to work with the various teams to identify and evaluate all hazards and then work out what kit, technology or controls are available to mitigate exposures, all this before the first hole has been dug

 

[MattH]

Lol, whilst everyone gets older and the budget for the NHS goes down and down.

 

[Parm]

Lol, whilst everyone gets older and the budget for the NHS goes down and down.

Exactly why there are now trying to improve on the health part of it all

 

[WorkshopChris]

Sometimes it something as simple as limiting the risk, Blasting with sand is known to be hazardous and there are simple ways and alternatives (Change blast media)to alter the process to remove the risk. Where as compared to drilling the hole there are no conventional alternatives so all you can do is limit the exposure by extracting the dust at source.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I never understood why they don't use dust suppression on disc cutters, makes no sense.

Any time I use mine I use water - either a hose or my pressurised bottle thingumy, makes slurry instead of dust.

I agree, if I don't use water with a Stihl Saw you end up cleaning the air filters on it every 10 minutes!

 

[brightspark]

its surprising how long u can hold your breath for when drilling above u run out of the way then take a good breath and run back in I wont work in buildings or anywhere the labradores are sweeping up or doing insulation even cutting kingspan makes me ill

 

[MattF]

I never understood why they don't use dust suppression on disc cutters, makes no sense.

Did some work on a site where the H&S bird brought that subject up with the masons. From the story I heard, the fact that they literally responded: "What's that?" led to an instant fine for them both. Always a hosepipe or similar nearby when they're cutting now.

Everyone bar the masons and H&S bird apparently found it quite amusing.