Protecting Worker Health Mike Slater

BOHS President 2014/15

On Sunday 13th April 2014 there was a two page spread in the Observer

On the next day this happened …….

• 39 fatal injuries to workers in Construction in 2012/13

But there’s another story – construction workers are also exposed to dust and other agents that can affect their health

• About 3 700 occupational cancer cases

• over 500 workers believed to die from exposure to silica dust

• 31 000 new cases of work-related ill health

each year in the construction sector

• About 3 700 occupational cancer cases

• over 500 workers believed to die from exposure to silica dust

• 31 000 new cases of work-related ill health

each year in the construction sector

Unfortunately these facts and figures don’t make the headlines

There are currently approximately 13,000 deaths each year due to occupational diseases

Looking at the broader picture

That equates to 36 people per day But we don’t hear anything about it in the news

148 workers died in accidents at work

99%

health

Approx 12,000 died from work related disease

An estimated 1.1 million people who worked in 2011/12 were suffering from a work-related illness

Almost 5000 deaths per year are attributable to asbestos exposure

Although it’s use is banned in Europe, asbestos is still present in many buildings

and people can still be exposed if it is damaged or disturbed

Silica released during stone cutting activities

Source: HSE

Here we can see a stonemason who is exposed to dust containing crystalline silica

Silica released during stone cutting activities

Source: HSE

Approx 1000 cancer deaths in Great Britain per annum are due to silica exposure

Welding is a common process and exposure to fume can lead to COPD, asthma and other diseases,

including cancer

Fume from processes like this one can lead to COPD

Now you see it

Paint sprayers can be exposed to a wide range of hazardous substances including isocyanates, a major cause of occupational asthma

Bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average British worker

Approx 1000 fatalities per year from cancer due to exposure to diesel exhaust emissions at work

Workers manufacturing pharmaceutical products can be exposed to highly toxic dusts

Recycling

Here workers can be exposed to a wide range of hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic metals, and biological agents

Fracking

Fracking has been in the news due to environmental concerns, but the process can also lead to workers being

exposed to silica dust and hazardous chemicals

And it’s not just chemical agents Here exposure to noise can cause deafness and vibration from the power tool can cause nerve and vascular damaage

Prevention or cure?

Recognise Evaluate Control

Occupational Hygiene

Recognise Evaluate Control

Occupational Hygiene

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

The use of asbestos has been banned in Europe and many other countries

Silica sand is no longer used for blasting – it’s been replaced by safer substitutes

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/copd/casestudies/wetcut.htm

Damping down with water

Process containment combined with local extraction

An effective local extraction system

www.aessolutions.co.uk

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Reduce exposure time Increase distance Working methods Standard procedures

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

• It only protects the user

• It doesn’t address the source of the problem

• It is usually not as effective as people believe

• It’s uncomfortable and people don’t like wearing it

Why is PPE the last resort?

A failure of management

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Supervision

Maintenance

Procedures

Auditing

Testing

Health surveillance

Monitoring

Information

Training

Management of controls

In many cases solutions are readily available

If you know where to look !

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

Occupational hygienists have the skills to find solutions to new and emerging risks

http://www.bohs.org/OHServices-directory/

Employers

Have the key role in preventing ill health due to work

HSE

Government Employers

Professionals

But others have a role to play too

“HSE .. (should continue) .. to

seek new and innovative ideas

for interventions that maximise

its impact on the continuing high

levels of work-related ill health.”

HSE

Government Employers

Professionals

BOHS Worker Health Protection Arena (Sponsored by Shell)

17 – 19 June

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0pTnkODfIHad5s9dpuPrpw?feature=watch

President@bohs.org http://www.bohs.org Twitter: @bohsworld http://www.slideshare.net/mikeslater