What is silica?
Silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay. Silica is also found in building materials such as bricks, tiles, concrete and mortar.
When these materials are cut, sanded, drilled, ground or polished, silica is contained within the fine dust created as a result of these actions. Some of this dust is fine enough to get deep into your lungs. The fine dust is known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and is extremely fine and almost invisible.
What does silica cause?
Inhaling a large amount of silica dust, usually over many years, can cause silicosis, which is a long-term lung disease.
Once inside the lungs, the silica dust causes swelling which gradually leads to the scarring and hardening of lung tissue. Lung tissue that’s scarred in this way doesn’t function properly.
People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk:
- Mining
- Quarrying
- Ceramics
- Glass manufacturing
- Stone masonry
- Construction and demolition
- Sandblasting
Signs and symptoms of silicosis
Silicosis takes a long time to develop and the symptoms may not begin until years after exposure. As such, a lot of people will not make the connection between their working life/exposure to silica, even if they were told of the dangers during their working life, because of the delay between their exposure and the onset of symptoms.
Usually, to get silicosis, you have to have been exposed for a long time, some 10–20 years. However, if you have worked for less time with heavy exposure, it can occur after only a few years of exposure or even just a few months.
The main symptoms of silicosis to look out for are persistent cough, fatigue and shortness of breath.
It can also put you at an increased risk of developing other conditions such as TB, chest infections, heart failure, arthritis, COPD, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension and kidney disease.
The condition can, in extreme cases, lead to respiratory failure.
Treatment
The damage to your lungs caused by silicosis cannot be reversed and the condition therefore cannot be cured. As such, any treatment offered aims to minimise the symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Prevention
Silicosis can be prevented by avoiding prolonged exposure to silica dust.
In the UK, all workplaces must comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, which sets a workplace exposure limit for silica.
Your employer should:
- Warn you about any risks to your health
- Make sure you’re aware of the correct procedures to reduce your risk of exposure to silica dust
- Supply you with the necessary equipment to protect you
If this has not happened, you may be able to claim compensation should you be diagnosed with silicosis.
How can we help?
If you have any questions in relation to the topics discussed in this article, please contact a member of our expert Personal Injury team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
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