Every year thousands of workers in Britain develop serious diseases because of what they breathe in at work. Masons are at particular risk from the silica in the dust in their environment because all stone contains silica, usually as quartz crystals. It is the particles of around 5microns – too small to see in normal conditions – that cause the damage because they enter deep into the lungs and become lodged there.

The disease is progressive and can become seriously debilitating or fatal. Symptoms usually appear in old age, but it does not only affect the old. One 36-year-old UK mason suffering from silicosis had a life-saving lung transplant last year after 11-years of working sandstone.

Statistically, approximately 50% of lung transplant recipients survive more than five years after transplantation.

Companies whose employees are exposed to silica dust have a legal duty to monitor the health of those employees. Lung function tests should be carried out and, if necessary, the employees X-rayed to identify disease at an early stage in order to remove the employee from the risk of any further exposure if early signs of it are discovered.

If diseases are discovered they should be reported under RIDDOR, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Health & Safety Executive make reporting such cases easy by filling in a form on-line at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor or calling the RIDDOR hotline at Tel: 0845 300 9923.

The cost to society of industrial disease is immense, but the cost to individuals is immeasurable. Lives can be ruined. Some sufferers never work again. Some die.

Often you cannot see or smell hazardous dust and fumes so people can breathe them in without even realising it.

LEV (or Local Exhaust Ventilation) can clear the air. It is a type of extraction system that captures and removes dust from the air at source, helping to protect the health of workers.

Research undertaken by HSE indicates that while up to 100,000 businesses across various industries use LEV systems, as few as 40% of them have had their systems tested. Furthermore, some employers are using LEV that is completely unsuitable for the task. Even worse, other employers are ignoring the need for LEV altogether and putting their workers health and lives at risk.

The law is clear. It requires that: “Where exposure to hazardous substances cannot be prevented, then it must be adequately controlled; and so far as is reasonable and practicable, exposure shall be adequately controlled by means other than personal protective equipment (PPE).”

LEV is the most common way that workplaces control exposure to dusts and fumes. If appropriate LEV systems aren’t being used or systems are not maintained properly then the risk to health is not being adequately controlled.

New guidance has been produced in partnership with external stakeholders, with separate publications for:

• Employers who buy and use LEV systems – INDG 408: Clearing the air, A simple guide to buying and using LEV.
• Designers and suppliers of LEV goods and services - HSG 258: Controlling airborne contaminants at work.
• Employees who rely on LEV to protect their health – INDG 409: Time to clear the air! A workers pocket guide to LEV.

HSE are running five LEV road shows across the country in February and March 2010. These events will provide businesses with the opportunity to meet suppliers / examiners of LEV and to learn more about LEV from HSE.

Information will appear on the LEV events web page – keep checking for details at www.hse.gov.uk/lev/events.htm

HSE have also launched a website to complement new guidance. It is at: www.hse.gov.uk/lev/index.htm

It is updated regularly to allow users to download guidance, view illustrated video clips, see what LEV events are taking place nationwide, share their views and provide feedback to HSE.

No-one should have their health or life put at risk because of something they breathe in at work and LEV is one of the key ways that the health of workers in Britain can be protected.