If you are providing respiratory protection you have, or will undergo face fit testing. You have undertaken a task specific risk assessment and determined the control measures including a suitable type of respiratory protection. Surveys have been undertaken to determine any at-risk areas for for highly toxic dusts, such as asbestos. IMPORTANT NOTE TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS

Soft Strip demolition can involve a wide range of different activities. With each activity comes a different group of hazards and risks. Some of the more common respiratory hazards and risks associated with soft strip demolition are as follows: Silica dust, also known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS), is created when working on or breaking up silica- containing materials like concrete, mortar and sandstone. Breaking up other materials, such as wood based products or gypsum (e.g. in plasterboard), limestone, marble and dolomite, can also create harmful dust. Stripping out may disturb asbestos contaminated materials (ACMs). Bad practice picture required

Stripping out or other work involving fibrous insulation (such as asbestos or fibreglass insulation) can release harmful dust into the air. Lead oxide dusts in the form of white, powdery deposits can be harmful and created by work with old lead. Burning, heating and welding of metals and paints can create harmful fumes (see toolbox talk on Welding Fume). Bad practice picture required

These dusts are not just a nuisance. They can seriously harm your lungs and airways, affecting your ability to breathe and lead a full and active life. The diseases they cause can also be fatal. The main dust-related diseases affecting construction workers are: Lung cancer. The lung disease silicosis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), where serious long-term lung damage causes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Asthma. Bad practice picture required

We have made sure that any at-risk areas for highly toxic dusts, such as asbestos have been identified. Specialised control measures have been put in place by qualified experts are needed for such materials. Control measures for these dusts will be detailed separately in the risk assessment and are not covered in this talk. However if you discover anything that you believe to be a toxic dust like asbestos then stop work immediately and contact your supervisor. Where possible, we will design work to limit the number of people that need to be in the work area where dusty work is being done. We will also screen off areas to prevent dust spreading.

Where it is not possible to eliminate harmful dusts, such as from stone, concrete, wood-based products or plasterboard, we will put in place controls as part of a risk assessment and train you to work in such a way so that you and other nearby workers do not breathe in the dust. Where possible, we will provide tools and plant fitted with dust extraction and collection devices. We can also provide you with portable extraction devices to remove some of the dust from the air. Other controls may include wet working where dust is dampened down with water so it is not in the air and able to be breathed in. It may be necessary for you to wear suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to protect yourself from the effects of dust. We will provide you with face fit testing to make sure the mask fits you correctly. We will also show you how to use and maintain it.

Keep hands away from your face while you are working. Remove overalls before you leave the worksite and enter the tea room. Wash hands and face thoroughly before eating and when leaving work. Any asbestos containing materials should have been highlighted before any work starts, in a survey, and dealt with by experts who are qualified to work with such materials. However, you should report any other concerns you have about asbestos to your manager. Read and understand the risk assessment. Use dust suppression methods, such as wet working, and local exhaust ventilation systems to reduce the amount of dust generated wherever possible. Make sure you know how to use dust extraction and collection devices, whether portable or fitted to equipment, and empty them regularly as you have been trained to do. Wear a respirator if the job will create dust. Don’t eat, drink or smoke on the job. Good practice picture required

3 Do you have everything you need to protect yourself at work? Read and understand the risk assessment. Use all the control measure provided whether wet working or local exhaust ventilation. Wear a respirator if the job will create dust. Don’t eat, drink or smoke on the job. 2 What are the main health effects of uncontrolled exposure to these dusts? These dusts are not just a nuisance. They can cause life changing diseases such as lung cancer, silicosis, COPD (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) and asthma. They can seriously reduce your ability to lead a full and active life. 1 How might you be exposed to dust during soft strip demolition? Breaking up silica- containing materials like concrete, mortar and sandstone can expose you to harmful RCS whilst soft stripping of other materials, such as wood-based products or gypsum (e.g. in plasterboard), limestone, marble and dolomite, can also create harmful dust.

Visual standards demonstrate ‘what good looks like’. They are intended to reinforce expectations of health and safety standards.

The soft stripping work is designed in such a way to limit the number of people that need to be in the work area where dusty work is being done. Areas are screened off to prevent dust spreading. Extraction ventilation equipment to be used to remove the dust at the source, either attached to equipment or as a portable extraction devices. Dust is dampened down with water where suitable. Respirators (dust masks) of suitable standard are worn and face fitted for dusty work. Visual standard picture required

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