Health & safety - Operational & site safety

Silica

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling damaging amounts of respirable crystalline silica. Silicosis is an avoidable disease as exposure to respirable crystalline silica can be controlled.

In addition to the measures already employed by UK cement manufacturers, the industry is taking steps to comply with the European Social Dialogue Agreement on Silica (ESDA), an agreement between European trade associations and unions to :

• Protect workers health
• Minimise exposure by adopting good practice
• Increase knowledge on health effects and best practice
• Report on progress.

For more information click on the following link to the 'European Network on Silica', where details on the ESDA and Best Practice can be located.