Roadshows held to encourage cleaner air in workplaces

Date:

15 March 2010

A series of interactive roadshows have been helping employers in industries such as welding and stonemasonry understand the risks of exposure to dusts, gases, mists, fumes and vapours.

The events, hosted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), aimed to help small businesses control the potential for illnesses, such as asthma and silicosis, which affect thousands of workers every year, by encouraging the proper use of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems. These remove dusts, mists, gases, vapours and fumes from the air so they cannot be breathed in, getting rid of any contaminants safely.

To highlight the personal stories behind the statistics, the roadshows included a role play set in a small stonemasonry which featured a stressed employer who was too preoccupied to listen to the concerns of his employee. A flash-forward to years later showed the employee suffering from silicosis.

HSE's LEV Communications Manager, Stephanie Beach, said:

"The use of LEV equipment can make a real difference to the health of those who work in industries where airborne contaminants are an issue. Many employers already buy LEV equipment to protect workers' health, but to make a difference it must be properly installed, used and maintained.

"Events like these inform small businesses of their legal obligations, and help them protect their workers from occupational diseases. After proving popular at past events we wanted to re-introduce the drama element. We found that it helps get the message across to employers in a whole new way about their responsibilities and the very real effects on health if they fail to act."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It works to prevent death, injury and ill-health to those at work and those affected by work activities. For more information about the work of HSE, visit www.hse.gov.uk
2. LEV is a ventilation system that takes dusts, mists, gases, vapour or fumes out of the air so that they can't be breathed in. Properly designed LEV will:
   • Collect the air that contains the contaminants;
   • Make sure they are contained and taken away from people;
   • Clean the air (if necessary) and get rid of the contaminants safely.
   For more information on Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems, visit www.hse.gov.uk/lev
3. There are an estimated 12,000 deaths each year due to past exposures to respiratory agents:
   • Approx. 7300 deaths due to occupational cancer, the vast majority of which are caused by respiratory carcinogens (nearly 5000 are due to lung cancer - about 2000 of which are asbestos related lung cancers - and a further 2000 are due to mesothelioma)
   • Approx. 4000 deaths due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) due to past occupational exposure to vapours, dust, gases and fumes (VDGF)
   • Several hundred deaths due to other occupational respiratory diseases - mainly asbestosis, silicosis and other forms of pneumoconiosis

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