Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 5 September 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 September 2022. It was answered by Caroline Johnson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 September 2022 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Silicosis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to include silicosis as a notifiable disease under the Health Protection Regulations 2010.

Answer: The Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010 provide public health protection in England and place a statutory duty to notify the appropriate authority of certain infectious diseases and causative agents, such as COVID-19. This enables prompt investigation, risk assessment and response by specified bodies to cases of infectious disease or contamination that pose a significant risk to human health.
Silicosis is not an infectious disease or causative agent which presents or could present significant harm to human health. Therefore, it cannot be included under Schedule 1 or 2 of the regulations, as the powers are limited in accordance with the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984. Instead, it is associated with occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The Health and Safety Executive recommend health surveillance should be considered for workers involved in high-risk occupations, such as construction and foundry work.

Secondary information