HSC PUBLISHES PROPOSALS FOR INHALABLE DUST CONTROL IN COAL MINES

HSC press release C009:04 - 25 February 2004

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published a consultation document on improved legislation to control inhalable dust below ground in coal mines. The document contains draft proposals for new regulations and an accompanying Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) with general guidance. The existing Coal Mine (Respirable Dust) Regulations 1975 would be revoked.

The proposals have been drawn up in association with a working group of the Deep Mined Coal Industry Advisory Committee, receiving their unanimous support. They should be of interest to all coal mine owners, managers, other employers, trade unions and staff working below ground in coal mines.

The proposals in the consultation document would strengthen existing legislation by introducing:

• a modern risk-based framework;
• time-weighted exposure limits;
• a single sample result, exceeding an exposure limit, triggering an investigation and corrective action;
• health surveillance for anyone with significant exposure to inhalable dust, whether employed by a mine owner or a contractor;
• an exposure limit for quartz applying throughout the mine; and
• sampling arrangements that focus on those at greatest risk of exposure above the limits.

The full text of the consultation document can be viewed or downloaded on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm

Notes to editors

1. The Coal Mines (Respirable Dust) Regulations 1975 (RDR) introduced the first statutory control limits for respirable dust in UK coal mines. These regulations were successful in substantially reducing the prevalence of coalworkers' pneumoconiosis in the industry. It had been believed that the most severe and debilitating forms of the disease had been virtually eradicated. However, in 1999 and 2000, the discovery of a number of new cases of higher category pneumoconiosis, including two of the complicated form - progressive massive fibrosis - demonstrated that despite the success of RDR, there are some important weaknesses in the control regime established by the current legislation.

2. It is hoped HSE will be able to submit draft regulations and an ACoP to HSC by January 2005.

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