Is Silica Dust the Next Asbestos? - A Guide for Industrial Disease Lawyers

Introduction

Silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay. It is a constituent of many construction materials such as bricks and concrete. During construction, activities such as drilling, generate a dust - respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

The Health and Safety Executive state that silica is the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos, with estimates of death from exposure ranging from hundreds to thousands per year.

In March 2020 the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Respiratory Health, produced a report entitled: ‘Silica - the next asbestos?’ The report called for various changes to the industry and making silicosis a reportable disease.

With increasing claims in the USA and notable international cases this webinar considers whether RCS dust is the next asbestos.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• What is silica?
• What is RCS - including which industries are workers most at risk of being exposed
• Conditions that arise from RCS exposure including silicosis, COPD and lung cancer
• Summary of HSE concerns
• Review of the work of APPG
• Informal register of silicosis
• How a claim could be brought, common law and statutory breaches:
• Grinding of Metals (Miscellaneous Industries) Regulations 1925
• Factories Act 1937/Factories Act 1961
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
• Likely experts needed: respiratory physician and occupational health experts
• Discussion of the need for international experts (including on law) in certain claims
• Discussion of historical disease, but also recent claims:
• international claims brought against UK companies and insurers (South African gold mines)
• Fracking - risks of exposure to RCS highlighted

This webinar was recorded on 1st August 2022