1-20 of 51 results for subject:Silica
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.248 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.002 seconds
- Search query
- subject:Silica
- We searched for
- subject_t:Silica OR subject_t:"Silicon dioxide" OR subject_ses:472854
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
More
Primary member
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Publisher
To ask His Majesty's Government when the compensation scheme for workers who have suffered from silicosis by inhaling crystalline silica dust after cutting kitchen worktop stones will be published; and when they will open applications.
To ask His Majesty's Government when the compensation scheme for workers who have suffered from silicosis by inhaling crystalline silica dust after cutting kitchen worktop stones will be published; and when they will open applications.
Workers who develop asbestos-related and dust-related diseases like mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis caused by their work can claim a one-off payment from the Government if they haven’t already secured compensation from their employer.
The Government has no plans to introduce a separate compensation scheme for workers who have suffered from silicosis by inhaling crystalline silica dust from cutting kitchen worktop stones.
Individuals with silicosis may be eligible for financial support through existing arrangements, including a lump-sum payment under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 where the relevant entitlement conditions are met.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to date, a) how many of the 1,000+ planned inspections into engineered stone silica dust exposure has the Health and Safety Executive carried out since April 2026, and b) what have these inspections found.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to date, a) how many of the 1,000+ planned inspections into engineered stone silica dust exposure has the Health and Safety Executive carried out since April 2026, and b) what have these inspections found.
As of 1st September 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has undertaken 226 inspections of premises where engineered stone may be being used, leading to inspectors serving 394 enforcement notices.
At this stage of the inspection programme it is not possible to draw general conclusions about the overall levels of compliance in the sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a statutory body is under a duty to monitor concentrations of respirable crystalline silica in ambient air at residential properties in the vicinity of mineral extraction sites.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a statutory body is under a duty to monitor concentrations of respirable crystalline silica in ambient air at residential properties in the vicinity of mineral extraction sites.
The Government's response is being taken forward through the respective departments' responsibilities. Additionally, the Government has established the Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss, bringing together leading security, military and academic experts to help Government identify priority risks, strengthen cross-government coordination and turn evidence into practical action. The Taskforce will provide independent challenge and recommendations to ensure climate and nature risks are considered more systematically across national security and resilience planning.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for her Department's policies of levels of ambient concentrations of respirable crystalline silica near ball clay workings in England.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for her Department's policies of levels of ambient concentrations of respirable crystalline silica near ball clay workings in England.
The Government's response is being taken forward through the respective departments' responsibilities. Additionally, the Government has established the Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss, bringing together leading security, military and academic experts to help Government identify priority risks, strengthen cross-government coordination and turn evidence into practical action. The Taskforce will provide independent challenge and recommendations to ensure climate and nature risks are considered more systematically across national security and resilience planning.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is considering a ban on engineered stone to prevent workers' increased exposure to silica dust.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is considering a ban on engineered stone to prevent workers' increased exposure to silica dust.
Great Britain has a well-established regulatory framework to protect workers from exposure to harmful dusts, including from processing engineered stone.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is delivering a targeted programme of over 1000 inspections to enforce duties on employers to prevent or adequately control exposure, as is required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. HSE is also raising awareness of how to control the risk from using engineered stone through a focussed publicity campaign and engagement with industry stakeholders.
HSE will consider the findings from planned inspections, enforcement and engagement activities to assess whether additional restriction on the supply and use of engineered stone is necessary to prevent workers being exposed to silica dust from work activities using engineered stone products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to mineral planning authorities on the monitoring of respirable crystalline silica at residential receptors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to mineral planning authorities on the monitoring of respirable crystalline silica at residential receptors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust in the engineered stone sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust in the engineered stone sector.
Great Britain has a robust and well-established regulatory framework to protect workers from health risks arising from exposure to hazardous substances, including respirable crystalline silica under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The right controls, including water suppression of dust and mist control, appropriate respiratory protective equipment and effective ventilation, can prevent exposure to respirable crystalline silica when processing engineered stone products.
The Health and Safety Executive has published guidance specifically for engineered stone processing, highlighting how employers can protect their workers from stone dust when hand processing, supported by the inspection campaign. Inspections of all workshops known to be cutting engineered stone are being undertaken by Health and Safety Executive inspectors this year to ensure that the obligations of duty holders to comply with that law, including in relation to employee health surveillance, are being enforced. Inspectors will be carrying out more than 1,000 inspections across the industry and where standards are not met, enforcement action is being taken.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Health and Safety Executive’s enforcement powers in relation to employers exposing workers to respirable crystalline silica dust during the cutting of engineered stone products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Health and Safety Executive’s enforcement powers in relation to employers exposing workers to respirable crystalline silica dust during the cutting of engineered stone products.
Great Britain has a robust and well-established regulatory framework to protect workers from health risks arising from exposure to hazardous substances, including respirable crystalline silica under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The right controls, including water suppression of dust and mist control, appropriate respiratory protective equipment and effective ventilation, can prevent exposure to respirable crystalline silica when processing engineered stone products. Health and Safety Executive inspectors are using existing enforcement powers including serving both improvement notices and prohibition notices to secure the measures necessary to protect workers at risk from exposure.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on improving health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on improving health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has strengthened its guidance on health surveillance to make clear that employers must ensure that the health of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica is regularly monitored. HSE is serving improvement notices when failings to provide statutory health surveillance are found, and further measures will be considered should it become clear they are needed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to introduce a statutory prohibition on dry cutting of high-silica engineered stone without appropriate dust suppression measures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to introduce a statutory prohibition on dry cutting of high-silica engineered stone without appropriate dust suppression measures.
Workers can be protected if the right control measures are in place to prevent exposure to harmful dust. The Health and Safety Executive will be carrying out more than 1000 inspections and where standards are not met, enforcement action is being taken to prohibit dry processing and require improvements in controls for dust. Further statutory restrictions on dry cutting engineered stone are not currently being proposed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is considering the introduction of a national screening programme for workers exposed to silica dust in the engineered stone industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is considering the introduction of a national screening programme for workers exposed to silica dust in the engineered stone industry.
Active health surveillance is a mandatory duty placed upon relevant duty holders under health and safety law, which will detect and tackle ill health amongst workers who may be exposed. Employers are required to act on the results they receive and workers should also inform their employer if they are concerned about symptoms. Voluntary health screening, which does not connect to a system of health surveillance through the employer, falls within the remit of the Department of Health and Social Care.
A programme of inspections of all workshops known to be cutting engineered stone is being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive this year, to ensure that the obligations of duty holders - including in relation to employee health surveillance - are being complied with.
Motion that this House has considered silica dust exposure in the workplace. Agreed to on question.
Motion that this House has considered silica dust exposure in the workplace. Agreed to on question.
I beg to move,
That this House has considered silica dust exposure in the workplace.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I want to begin by paying tribute to my constituent Caroline Hudson and her sister Sandra, who are both here today. I thank them for their...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered silica dust exposure in the workplace.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I want to begin by paying tribute to my constituent Caroline Hudson and her sister Sandra, who are both here today. I thank them for their...
I commend the hon. Lady for securing the debate. Exposure to RCS dust causes significant occupational health issues, and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland estimates that silica dust exposure is responsible for some 20 lung cancer deaths per year. A quarry worker in Northern Ireland is five...
I commend the hon. Lady for securing the debate. Exposure to RCS dust causes significant occupational health issues, and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland estimates that silica dust exposure is responsible for some 20 lung cancer deaths per year. A quarry worker in Northern Ireland is five...
I thank the hon. Member for his question and for all his work with the APPG. He is of course right: it is vital that we ensure that all workers have the proper protection.
Experts repeatedly warn that silicosis is being underdiagnosed and under-reported, so will the Minister consider how best...
I thank the hon. Member for his question and for all his work with the APPG. He is of course right: it is vital that we ensure that all workers have the proper protection.
Experts repeatedly warn that silicosis is being underdiagnosed and under-reported, so will the Minister consider how best...
Thank you, Dr Allin-Khan. As always, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Liz Jarvis) on securing this timely debate on a really serious issue, and on making a very strong speech.
This debate is on silica dust in the workplace, which...
Thank you, Dr Allin-Khan. As always, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Liz Jarvis) on securing this timely debate on a really serious issue, and on making a very strong speech.
This debate is on silica dust in the workplace, which...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Dr Allin-Khan. I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Liz Jarvis) on securing this important debate. I also pay tribute to her for her consistent work on this issue in supporting her constituent, Caroline Hudson, whose brother-in-law, George Elliott,...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Dr Allin-Khan. I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Liz Jarvis) on securing this important debate. I also pay tribute to her for her consistent work on this issue in supporting her constituent, Caroline Hudson, whose brother-in-law, George Elliott,...
Will the Minister give way?
Will the Minister give way?
Not just at the moment. I may be able to later.
Last month, the HSE launched a campaign specifically on this area of risk, with dedicated pages and resources on the HSE’s Work Right website. Media activity supported the launch; there was coverage in national publications and trade media, as well...
Not just at the moment. I may be able to later.
Last month, the HSE launched a campaign specifically on this area of risk, with dedicated pages and resources on the HSE’s Work Right website. Media activity supported the launch; there was coverage in national publications and trade media, as well...
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. The dangers are significant for those who visit factories and quarry sites. The Minister outlined that there is a strict statutory need for protective clothing and respiratory mouth covers. Is that the true for people who visit these sites, so they are...
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. The dangers are significant for those who visit factories and quarry sites. The Minister outlined that there is a strict statutory need for protective clothing and respiratory mouth covers. Is that the true for people who visit these sites, so they are...