A cross-party group of MPs has said construction apprentices must learn about the risks of inhaling silica as part of their syllabus, one of ten priorities aimed at preventing silicosis.
News
Apprentices should learn about silicosis, say MPs in new report
The All Party Parliamentary Group for respiratory health says there have been ‘significant developments’ both in technology and understanding of how respiratory diseases can be prevented and treated since its last report in 2020.
“The lessons learned during the pandemic must serve to transform the diagnosis, treatment and management of respiratory diseases and ensure silicosis has a place in prevention policies,” says the foreword.

The report calls on HSE to ‘urgently’ look into real time monitoring of dust particulates and to consult the industry on using the technology more widely.
Occupational histories should be shared with GPs to enable early detection, it says. Further, silicosis should be made a notifiable disease with the NHS and industry regulations to help doctors.
The construction sector employs around 1.36 million people. Industry representatives told APPG that ‘many’ of this cohort could be exposed to deadly Respirable crystalline silica (RCS), but the precise number is unclear.
“Under-reporting, the fragmented nature of the industry and poor diagnostic ability are all contributing factors,” said the report.
Silicosis is the most common chronic occupational lung disease worldwide. It is a progressive, degenerative clinical respiratory condition which causes crippling health conditions and can lead to death.
RCS is the most toxic form when it is freshly ‘fractured’ through processes such as stonecutting, drilling and polishing and it becomes a fine enough dust to reach deep inside the lungs when inhaled.
Kevin Williams, Respiratory Manager at Arco, which contributed to the report, said: “We all know that respiratory illness can cause serious health problems, disability and even death to those exposed unnecessarily to risks, such as silica dust. We also know that these risks are often preventable. We urge the government to act on the findings.”
Improving Silicosis Outcomes in the UK report here: tinyurl.com/57axw2y9
NEWS

Number of schools with at-risk concrete continues to grow
By Belinda Liversedge on 26 September 2023
The number of schools in England where at-risk concrete has been identified has risen to 174, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

'Register high rise buildings by 1 October, or face penalties,' says BSR
By Belinda Liversedge on 25 September 2023
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has warned owners that “time is running out” to avoid criminal charges if they have not yet registered their high-rise buildings.

People of all ages no longer see mental health as ‘taboo’ finds report
By on 22 September 2023
Eight in ten Britons say they would be comfortable discussing mental health with a friend if they were experiencing problems, according to a new report, which claims there has been a ‘sea change’ in attitudes towards mental health.