Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have begun a targeted inspection initiative focusing on manufacturing businesses where materials that contain silica are used.

The inspections, which started on Monday (October 3), will check whether employers and workers know the risks involved when dealing with silica and ensure that businesses have control measures in place to protect workers’ respiratory health. This will include brick and tile manufacturers, foundries, stone working sites and manufacturers of kitchen worktops.

Prolonged exposure to airborne particles of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can lead to life-changing respiratory conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer warns Britain’s workplace regulator. 

As part of the HSE’s role as an enabling regulator it has recently refreshed its silica guidance for brick and tile manufacturing, stonework and foundries and has an ebulletin to support this industry. HSE also has advice for employers and workers in manufacturing that use materials that contain silica.

Silica is a natural substance found in most stone, rocks, sand, quartz and clay. Silica particles are produced during many manufacturing tasks involving these materials. Silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer can all be caused by breathing in tiny particles of silica. Over time, exposure to silica particles can harm a worker’s ability to breathe and cause irreversible, often fatal, lung disease.   

Employers have a legal duty to put in place suitable arrangements to manage health and safety and ensure they comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Inspectors will be looking for evidence that businesses have put in place effective measures, such as Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), water suppression and where appropriate, use of protective equipment such as Respiratory Protective (RPE), to reduce workers exposure to the RCS. If any health and safety breaches are discovered, HSE will take enforcement action to make sure workers’ health is protected. 

HSE’s Chief Medical Advisor, Professor David Fishwick explains more about silicosis in this short video. 

HSE’s head of manufacturing David Butter said: “It’s hugely important for manufacturing businesses where workers use materials that contain silica to act now to ensure they comply with the law and protect their workers from the risks of devastating lung disease. Businesses should take note that that good ventilation in the workplace and protective equipment are just some of the measures they need in place to protect the respiratory health of workers.  

“Ahead of our autumn/winter inspection campaign, we want employers and workers to make sure they are aware of the risks associated with the activities they do. For example brick and tile manufacture, foundry workers and stoneworkers where they cut and shape bricks, tiles and stone that can create RCS dust that could be breathed in. To assist them we have refreshed our guidance. In addition, we have committed to providing dutyholders with regular updates, information and advice through our ebulletin.” 

To view the refreshed guidance visit: 

• Brick and tile silica – COSHH e-tool (hse.gov.uk) 
• Foundry – COSHH e-tool (hse.gov.uk) 
• Stoneworkers – COSHH e-tool (hse.gov.uk) 

You can sign up for regular updates on the silica campaign here. Follow the campaign on Twitter at @H_S_E or on Facebook @hsegovuk.  

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Notes to Editors: 

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk 

1. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk 

1. The inspection programme will be supported by HSE’s ‘Work-Right’ campaign, aimed to influence employer behaviour change.  

Two companies and two people have been sentenced after an 18-year-old construction worker was fatally injured while working on a house-build construction site in Boston, Lincolnshire.

P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited, D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited, Brent Woods and Darrell Tripp were all fined following the death of Josh Disdel.

In July 2018 Mr Disdel, and another worker, both employed by P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited, had been tasked with clearing debris from manholes at a house-build construction site at White Bridges, Boston.

While work was taking place, Mr Disdel’s colleague was asked if he could move the works van to allow another vehicle to pass. However, he was not aware that Mr Disdel was lying on the road with his head and torso in a manhole, directly in front of the van.

As the vehicle moved forwards one of the wheels entered the top of the manhole contacting Mr Disdel.  Mr Disdel was then taken to hospital but later died as a result of serious crush injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that neither the Principal Contractor, D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited, nor the groundworks sub-contractor, P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited, had ensured that the work was planned in such a way to ensure that workers were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

Brent Woods, a manager within P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited for approximately 10 years, sent employees to carry out the task without a risk assessment or method statement in place despite having previously produced such information in the past.

In addition, workers had not been trained to work in a road, had not been provided with any equipment to ensure the work was carried out safely and had not been provided with any instruction on any safety measures to be used at site.

Today (September 6) at Lincoln Crown Court, Darrell Tripp, a site manager for D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited for approximately four years, having worked in the construction industry for about 40 years, did not carry out a site induction of Josh Disdel and failed to carry out suitable checks to ensure the workers had the relevant training. Mr Tripp also failed to ensure there was a safe system of work in place of whether there were adequate control measures.

D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited of Seas End Road, Spalding, were found guilty of contravening Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  They were fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,765.92

P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited of Station Road, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to contravening Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  The company was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,264.87.

Brent Woods of North Parade, Holbeach, Spalding was found guilty of contravening Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  He was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and pay costs of £1200.

Darrell Tripp of Broadgate Lane, Deeping St James, Peterborough was found guilty of contravening Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.  He was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay costs of £1200.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Mark Welsh said: “This was a completely avoidable incident, caused by a multitude of failures by both companies and both of the individuals who appeared in court.

“All of the defendants failed to adequately plan the work to identify the risks, failed to ensure that the individuals carrying out the work were trained and competent to do so, and failed to ensure a safe system of work was in place and followed.

“The result was the tragic loss of life of a young man who was looking forward to a bright future.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We seek to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk

2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/

3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

4. Further information relating to work site traffic management on construction sites can be found at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/vehiclestrafficmanagement.htm and https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis53.pdf

The investigation into the death of a slinger signaller has been handed over to the Health and Safety Executive.

Marius Badiou died on 21 July 2022 during a lifting operation at the Gatwick Railway Redevelopment Project at Gatwick Airport.

A joint investigation was launched with and led by the British Transport Police. The police have concluded their investigations and the Health Safety Executive (HSE) will now lead the investigation.

The investigation will determine if any breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act have occurred.

HSE principal inspector Ross Carter said: “It is important HSE completes the investigation into Marius’ death to determine the cause of this incident.

“HSE will draw upon the evidence gathered so far and call upon its own specialist investigators and independent support in what is likely to be a complex investigation.

“During the investigation we will continue to keep in touch with Marius’s family as we send them our deepest sympathies at this difficult time.”

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Notes to Editors:

1. Please click on the following link to see statement from Thames Valley Police.
2. The Health and safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has confirmed two non-executive director appointments to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Chyrel Brown and David Coats will fill two vacant positions on HSE’s Board, bringing with them a wealth of experience that will strengthen the existing team.

Chair of HSE, Sarah Newton, welcoming the appointments, stated:

“I am delighted that Chyrel and David will be joining us on the HSE Board. Their wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience will be a great asset to us. I look forward to working with them.”

Chyrel Brown

Chyrel is currently the Chief Operating Officer at One Housing Group and has worked for more than 20 years in large, complex commercial organisations across London and the Southeast. She sits on the Boards of St Martins of Tours Housing Association, Barnsbury Housing Association and is also a non-executive director at University College London Hospital.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell Fire disaster, Chyrel delivered assurance to the London Assembly on Fire Safety and embedded organisational risk regimes in cladding, fire and regulatory compliance.

David Coats

David has previously worked for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and continues to provide research and advice to a number of trade unions. He is the director of WorkMatters Consulting and an Honorary Professor at the University of Leicester. He sits on the Central Arbitration Committee, which is effectively the Industrial Court for Great Britain and the Advisory Committee for the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick.

As well as his breadth of experience in industrial relations, including work with non-unionised environments such as vulnerable workers, David has previously advised the World Economic Forum and served on the Low Pay Commission from 1999-2004.

About HSE

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. HSE also has added responsibilities, such as becoming the appointed Building Safety Regulator. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk.

2. HSE is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

A North West roofing contractor has been fined after an employee fell from a roof ladder and died at the scene.

In May 2021, roof replacement work was being carried out on a domestic property in Burnley by Richard Thornton, trading as Vanguard Roofing. On the final day on site, an employee of Mr Thornton was climbing a triple extending access ladder on the roof, to reach scaffolding at eaves level, whilst carrying a pile of slate on their shoulder. They slipped and fell to the ground, sustaining fatal injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the interlocking sections of the ladder they had been negotiating did not allow for three points of contact to be maintained, especially when a load was being carried: a single pole access ladder would have enabled this.

The employee had also been wearing loose fitting footwear, which had not allowed for a firm foothold on the ladder. There was no safe means of transporting materials to the roof, such as a gin wheel and bucket, which would have avoided the need for carrying loads via the ladder. Had these measures been taken, proper contact could have been maintained and the incident avoided. The investigation also found that Mr Thornton did not have any employer’s liability insurance in place to protect workers.

At Blackpool Magistrates’ Court Richard Anthony Thornton of Upper Brook Court, Greenbrook Road, Burnley pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 1(1) of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay costs of £3,600.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Christine McGlynn said: “Each year falls from ladders kill a number of workers. This tragic incident could have been avoided by the selection of equipment which would have meant that three points of contact could be maintained.

“Inexpensive equipment, such as a gin wheel and bucket, could and should have been made available to avoid the need to carry materials up a ladder. Every employer needs to ensure that they have Employers Liability (Compulsory) Insurance in place to insure against liability for injury or disease to their employees arising out of their employment. Where employers are found to be in breach of this requirement, they will be held to account by HSE.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/ 
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk
4. More information and guidance can be found at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height