This example covers respirable crystalline silica dust from working concrete, stone, brick and sand, with the wet-suppression and health surveillance controls now expected.
This example COSHH risk assessment has been prepared using the
F-HS5 COSHH Assessment form template - a purpose-built template designed to focus entirely on what matters: identifying the hazards of each substance, recording the controls and PPE that manage them, and confirming exposure is adequately controlled, without any unnecessary fields getting in the way.
The file is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be saved to Google Docs if required, with pre-defined styles throughout to match the risk ratings.
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COSHH Assessment - Silica (Respirable Crystalline Silica / RCS)
This pre-completed COSHH assessment covers respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust generated during cutting, drilling, grinding or blasting of silica-containing materials such as concrete, stone, brick and sand. Updated in July 2026 to reflect current control expectations - water suppression, no dry sweeping and health surveillance for regularly exposed workers.
This assessment covers general silica dust from natural and construction materials. Engineered stone (quartz composite worktop material, up to 95% crystalline silica) is excluded and covered separately in COSHH-97 Engineered Stone Dust - in May 2026 the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published dedicated COSHH guidance for engineered stone with stricter controls, including no dry processing under any circumstances and powered air-purifying respiratory protection.
What Does This COSHH Assessment Cover?
The assessment is fully completed and ready to use, covering all sections required for a complete hazardous substance risk assessment:
- Substance identification - trade name, chemical name (respirable crystalline silica / quartz), SDS reference and physical state
- Health effects and first aid - inhalation, ingestion, skin contact and eye contact, with specific first aid for each route and medical monitoring after exposure even before symptoms appear
- Silicosis and carcinogen risk - RCS causes silicosis (serious, progressive and irreversible, with no cure), lung cancer, COPD and kidney disease; even short-term high exposures can cause acute silicosis
- Workplace exposure limits - RCS TWA 0.1 mg/m³ over 8 hours, a very low limit reflecting the severity of the health risk
- Control measures - water suppression or LEV on equipment, no dry sweeping (vacuum extraction or wet methods only), careful bag handling, training before work begins and health surveillance for regularly exposed workers
- CLP hazard classification - Irritant and Long-term health hazard pictograms
- PPE requirements - FFP3 respirator as a minimum with PAPR for prolonged high-dust work, half or full-face P3 respirator for sustained dusty operations, goggles, coveralls and gloves
- Emergency procedures - spillage collected by HEPA vacuum or wet methods, dust containment and disposal guidance
Who Is This COSHH Assessment For?
This assessment is suitable for any workplace where silica-containing materials are worked, including:
- Construction and civil engineering contractors
- Stonemasonry and monumental masonry
- Demolition and refurbishment operations
- Ceramic and refractory manufacturing
- Quarrying and aggregate processing
Working From the Safety Data Sheet
The assessment reflects the hazards and controls found in typical safety data sheets for silica materials. Check the details against the SDS for the materials in use, and record your own storage locations, users and site-specific controls in the relevant fields.
COSHH Compliance
This document provides ready-to-use evidence of COSHH compliance and supports occupational health and safety management. The assessment is based on the F-HS5 COSHH Assessment template, is fully editable in Microsoft Word, and can be customised with your company details, site-specific information and review dates.