Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Disease Reduction Programme
9 October 2007
In October 2007, HSE successfully prosecuted a stonemason firm for failing to ensure employees' exposure to respirable crystalline silica was adequately controlled, failing to implement a programme of health surveillance and failing to notify the relevant enforcing authority of a case of ill health under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). This was the first prosecution under the DRP's stonemasons enforcement initiative to ensure compliance with the new workplace exposure limit (WEL) for respirable crystalline silica which was introduced in October 2006.
16 November 2007
In November 2007, a quarry were found guilty of breaching COSHH after it was discovered that an employee had developed silicosis. The prosecution by HSE was held at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court.