Masks and other breathing apparatus are supposed to be the last line of defence against dust and fumes when all other efforts have been made to prevent the creation of dust and to remove it from the atmosphere. But often, masks do not provide any protection at all because they are the wrong type, they are not fitted properly, or because there is a company culture of ignoring them.

A campaign by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) aims to change that. Called Clean Air? Take Care!, it was launched last month in the Cabinet War rooms in Whitehall, London. Its aim is to spread the message that dust – such as respirable crystalline silica produced when stone is worked – can kill and that appropriate masks properly fitted can save lives and long-term illness.

Jane Buxey, Chief Executive of the Stone Federation, who are launching their own health & safety initiative this month that will be rolling out to members during the year, has welcomed the move. She says Stone Federation fully support any initiative that helps protect employees from harmful working conditions.

Other organisations that have given their support to the scheme include the British Occupational Hygiene Society, Iosh (the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health), Safety Groups UK and the TUC.

The Clean Air? Take Care! campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure to hazardous substances such as dusts, fumes and solvent vapours, which are estimated to cause 12,000 deaths each year, although some of those deaths occur a long time after exposure.

The campaign follows a survey by HSE that showed 21% of employers considered their workers could face a risk of breathing problems or asthma caused by working with chemicals, dusts and fibres, while another HSE survey show 29% of workers regard themselves as regularly having to breathe in dust or fumes that could cause respiratory conditions.

Those using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) are often still not adequately protected due to poor selection, use and maintenance of the equipment.

This is self evident from a variety of sources including HSE’s enforcement database. As recently as February HSE successfully prosecuted a stone company after two masons were left with lung disease as a result of being exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust from dry stone working without dust extractors or masks to protect them for 14 years. The company were fined £30,000 with £6,000 costs. No doubt compensation will follow.

Through Clean Air? Take Care! the BSIF hopes people at all levels in companies will become more aware of the issues surrounding respiratory hazards and the dangers of incorrect selection of RPE.

As David Hall, chairman of BSIF, said at the launch of the Clean Air? Take Care! campaign: “The aim is to achieve a significant reduction in diseases caused by the inhalation exposure to hazardous substances at work. It’s an awareness campaign.”

He said small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) needed most help and much of the campaign would aim to reach that sector in particular.

A range of thought-provoking tool box talk presentations, posters, an easy to follow RPE selection guide and other resources have been designed to create awareness by offering simple advice to users and buyers of RPE at different levels in an organisation, enabling the organisation to implement a full respiratory protection programme supported by and involving employees.

The various tools available can be downloaded from the website address at the end of this report and will also be available from RPE distributors and manufactures, who will have CDs containing the same range of material.

Dr Bob Rajan from HSE, who also spoke at the launch, says: “Although RPE looks easy… everyone has lessons to learn. I am confident that through the Clean Air? Take Care! campaign these lessons will be delivered with the support of stakeholders and distributors.

“The range of tools for both employers and employees will help ensure the important messages get across and are absorbed, bringing about a sustained behavioural change within the workplace.”