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Construction silica

This information will help employers (including the self-employed) comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), as amended, to control exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and protect workers' health.

Construction silica [CN]

Concrete scabbling (PDF) [27]

This sheet describes good practice using RPE with dust extraction and/or water suppression. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Chasing with handheld power tools (PDF) [32]

This sheet describes good practice using RPE with dust extraction and/or water suppression. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Drilling and coring with hand-held rotary power tools (PDF) [37]

This sheet describes good practice using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) with dust extraction and/or water suppression. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Crushing and screening demolition material (PDF) [42]

This sheet describes good practice using engineering control - water suppression. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Clearing and removing rubble (PDF) [45]

This sheet describes good practice using engineering control - water suppression and a filtered air supply to the vehicle cab. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Cutting blocks, paving and kerbstones with a cut-off saw (PDF) [48]

This sheet describes good practice using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and water suppression. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Abrasive blasting (PDF) [52]

This sheet describes good practice using RPE. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Diamond coring/hole cutting (PDF) [55]

This sheet describes good practice using RPE and water suppression. In larger tunnels, use a filtered air supply to the control cabin. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Breaking in enclosed spaces (PDF) [59]

This sheet describes good practice using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and water suppression. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure to an adequate level. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Related items

Link URLs in this page

  1. COSHH Essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/index.htm
  2. Overview - Direct advice sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/index.htm
  3. Agriculture (Farming)https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/agriculture.htm
  4. Flour (Bakers and millers)https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/baking.htm
  5. Metalworking fluidshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/metalworking-fluids.htm
  6. Microelectronicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/microelectronics.htm
  7. Motor Vehicle Repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/mvr.htm
  8. Offshorehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/offshore.htm
  9. Printinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/printing.htm
  10. RPEhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/respiratory-protective-equipment.htm
  11. Rubberhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/rubber.htm
  12. Service & Retailhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/service-retail.htm
  13. Overview - Silicahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/silica.htm
  14. Brick and tilehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/brick-tile-silica.htm
  15. Ceramicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/ceramics-silica.htm
  16. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/construction-silica.htm
  17. Foundryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/foundry.htm
  18. Manufacturinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/manufacturing-silica.htm
  19. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/quarries-silica.htm
  20. Stoneworkershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/stonemasons.htm
  21. Skin or eye contacthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/skin-eye-contact.htm
  22. Weldinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/welding.htm
  23. Woodworkinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/woodworking.htm
  24. Dichloromethane (DCM)https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/dichloromethane.htm
  25. Frequently asked questionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/faq.htm
  26. Advice for managershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn0.pdf
  27. Concrete scabblinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn1.pdf
  28. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  29. G406: New and existing engineering control systems https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g406.pdf
  30. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  31. R4: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40 (APF 40)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe4.pdf
  32. Chasing with handheld power toolshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn2.pdf
  33. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  34. G406: New and existing engineering control systems https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g406.pdf
  35. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  36. R4: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40 (APF 40)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe4.pdf
  37. Drilling and coring with hand-held rotary power toolshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn3.pdf
  38. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  39. G406: New and existing engineering control systems https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g406.pdf
  40. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  41. R4: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40 (APF 40)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe4.pdf
  42. Crushing and screening demolition materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn4.pdf
  43. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  44. R3: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 20 (APF 20)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe3.pdf
  45. Clearing and removing rubblehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn5.pdf
  46. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  47. R2: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 10 (APF 10)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe2.pdf
  48. Cutting blocks, paving and kerbstones with a cut-off sawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn6.pdf
  49. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  50. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  51. R4: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40 (APF 40)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe4.pdf
  52. Abrasive blastinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn7.pdf
  53. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  54. R5: Breathing apparatus with UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe5.pdf
  55. Diamond coring/hole cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn8.pdf
  56. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  57. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  58. R4: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40 (APF 40)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe4.pdf
  59. Breaking in enclosed spaceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/cn9.pdf
  60. G404 - Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g404.pdf
  61. G409: Exposure measurement: Air samplinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
  62. R4: UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 40 (APF 40)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe4.pdf
  63. Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.htm
  64. Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/index.htm
  65. Example risk assessmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/index.htm
  66. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/publications.htm
  67. Nanotechnologyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/nanotechnology/index.htm
  68. Risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

RPE
Respiratory Protective Equipment

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2024-05-03