Silica Dust Risks: HSE Updates Guidance

July 15, 2025

Dust particles in the air against a black background

Dry weather conditions increase the risk of Silica Dust airborne particles in various work environments.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its critical guidance document on “Health Surveillance for Those Exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)”. The refreshed guidance, released in March 2025, serves as an important reminder for employers to evaluate their compliance with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, particularly as dry conditions can exacerbate dust-related hazards.

Employer Obligations Under COSHH

The updated HSE guidance emphasises that health surveillance is a legal requirement when workers face foreseeable health risks from hazardous substances like RCS. Employers must:

  1. Identify exposure risks: Assess where and when dust exposure might occur
  2. Implement effective controls: Including wet cutting methods, proper dust extraction systems, and appropriate Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
  3. Establish comprehensive health surveillance: Including regular lung function tests, medical evaluations, and detailed record-keeping
  4. Inform workers: Ensure all employees understand the risks and recognize the importance of reporting symptoms

Understanding the Dangers of RCS

Respirable Crystalline Silica is produced when common construction materials - including concrete, stone, rock, slate, and tile - undergo cutting, drilling, grinding, sanding, or polishing. These processes release microscopic silica particles that are invisible under normal lighting conditions but can penetrate deep into workers’ lungs.

Prolonged or intense exposure to RCS can lead to several serious health conditions. It’s crucial to recognise that RCS exposure isn’t limited to those directly operating cutting or drilling equipment. During dry, windy conditions, silica dust can travel significant distances, potentially affecting:

  • Site labourers performing cleanup duties
  • Workers in adjacent areas
  • Anyone in proximity to dust-generating activities

➡️ If you need support in staying legally compliant and safe, explore our services – we can support your organisation through every issue.

We’ve been busier than usual here at AE Insurance Brokers lately. As part of our ongoing commitment to staying current and effective, we recently underwent a brand refresh. While it looked like a cosmetic change - a new logo, a fresh colour palette and font - the process was actually a deep dive into who we are, how we serve our clients, and where the industry is heading.

And while we were looking in the mirror, something struck us: many businesses don’t look in theirs often enough.

When we talk to UK business owners one pattern emerges consistently. Companies grow, pivot, hire, launch new products, or expand into new territories. Yet their insurance policies often remain frozen in time, reflecting the version of the business that existed twelve months ago - or worse, five years ago.

Insurance is often treated as a compliance checkbox: a bill that needs paying, a certificate that needs sending. But if your business has changed, your risk profile has changed too, and when your policy doesn’t match your reality, you’re likely overpaying and potentially leaving dangerous gaps in your protection.

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