Lawford Kidd's Blog

East Ayrshire Council (EAC) has taken the unprecedented step of becoming the first Local Authority to pledge its support to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's (IOSH) No Time to Lose Campaign

The anti work-related cancer campaign, the purpose of which is to increase awareness of the exposure to cancer-causing substances in the workplace and also to encourage employers / organisations to take action to prevent such, has already attracted in excess of fifty pledges and considerably more endorsements.

A new study conducted at the University of Stirling suggests that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is not doing enough to protect workers against harmful silica dust.

The study showed that silica dust, which can be created from use of stone, concrete, rock, plaster, brick, mortar and industrial sand is extremely harmful, with 1,000 workers being at risk of death from the dust every year.

Occupational cancer death is the main concern according to the University of Stirling’s Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Research Group (OEHSRG), with this type of dust being the second major cause of cancer after asbestos. However, many other illnesses are associated with exposure and inhalation to crystalline silica, including silicosis, kidney disease, tuberculosis, arthritis and chronic pulmonary disease.