Many businesses are still not protecting their workers lungs – and it’s not acceptable.

January 2025 started off with two significant HSE prosecutions in the field of RPE:

One business, manufacturing timber doors, windows and conservatories, was found not to be providing workers with suitable respiratory protection and not ensuring a face fit for masks that were worn. Their employees were in an environment lacking appropriate measures to prevent the build-up of wood dust, including inadequate ventilation and common use of dry brushing. Excessive inhalation of wood dust can cause workers to develop asthma and nasal cancer. No health monitoring of those at risk was taking place.

Read the HSE report here

At a stone masonry business, management was found to have completely failed to take health and safety matters seriously regarding their workers’ exposure to stone dust. Stone workers are at risk of exposure to airborne particles of stone dust containing Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) when processing stone, by cutting, chiselling and polishing. Over time, breathing in these silica particles can cause irreversible, life-changing and often fatal respiratory conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

Read the HSE report here

HSE Inspectors expect businesses to seek guidance, instruction and competent advice on implementation and communication of those measures necessary to control on site risks. Ignorance is no defence.

Both businesses were given significant fines after repeated failures to protect workers.

Taking advice on your approach to RPE is the first step to ensuring that your workforce is safe and your business compliant. Speaking to specialists in RPE will:

1. Help you choose the correct facemask and respiratory solution
2. Ensure that masks have a good tight face fit
3. Know when to undertake the necessary regular kit inspections
4. Make clear the maintenance needs of your RPE equipment – RPE maintenance is a vital part of continued compliance

Anchor Safety can help you with all this and more with an holistic review of your respiratory safety and a bespoke solution which will support and complement your business. Their deep understanding of respiratory hazards and the challenges of human behaviour will help you mitigate and manage risk, remain compliant and prevent harm.