HSE COSHH Essentials in Ceramics: Silica

Task-Specific Guidance for Controlling Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Ceramics Industry

LEVCentral Expert Commentary

The ceramics industry presents a wide range of opportunities for exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). From the preparation of glazes and colours through to casting, fettling, kiln loading and spraying, many routine manufacturing activities have the potential to generate hazardous airborne dust capable of causing silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer following prolonged exposure.

To help employers comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, HSE has produced a dedicated series of COSHH Essentials Direct Advice Sheets for the ceramics industry. Rather than providing general guidance, each sheet addresses a specific task and describes practical control measures that can be implemented to achieve adequate control of exposure.

The series comprises:

For LEV professionals, these guidance sheets are particularly valuable because they demonstrate how HSE applies the Principles of Good Control to real industrial processes. Depending upon the task, the guidance recommends a combination of general ventilation, Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), enclosure, segregation, automation, good housekeeping, health surveillance and suitable Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). The result is a practical series of documents that can be used both for COSHH assessments and for designing effective exposure control strategies.

View HSE Guidance Series

View the HSE Ceramics Silica Guidance Series

Key Learning Points

The guidance explains:

The health risks associated with respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
Why different ceramic manufacturing tasks require different control approaches.
Practical engineering controls for common ceramic production processes.
Appropriate use of:
- General ventilation.
- Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV).
- Enclosure and segregation.
- Process automation.
Good housekeeping practices, including avoiding dry sweeping.
Selection and use of suitable RPE where required.
The importance of equipment inspection and maintenance.
Worker information, instruction and training.
When health surveillance should be provided for workers regularly exposed to RCS.

Source Document Information

Organisation: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Document: COSHH Essentials – Ceramics: Silica (CR Series)

Document Type: COSHH Essentials Direct Advice Sheets

Primary Topics: Respirable Crystalline Silica, Ceramics, LEV, COSHH, Dust Control, Occupational Health

Audience: Ceramic Manufacturers, Production Managers, LEV Designers, Occupational Hygienists, Health & Safety Professionals, Supervisors and Duty Holders.

LEVCentral Perspective

The COSHH Essentials series demonstrates one of HSE’s greatest strengths: translating legislation into practical workplace guidance.

Rather than expecting employers to interpret complex occupational hygiene principles, each sheet focuses on a specific task and explains the control measures expected for that activity. This makes the guidance particularly useful for supervisors, production managers and smaller organisations that may not have access to specialist occupational hygiene expertise.

From an LEV perspective, the series also reinforces an important engineering principle: there is no universal extraction solution. The controls required for glaze preparation differ from those needed during spraying or dry fettling because the processes, dust generation mechanisms and exposure risks are different. Effective LEV design therefore begins with understanding the process itself, not simply selecting an extraction unit.

Further Resources

Recommended Learning

Thought Leadership

The COSHH Essentials guidance sheets illustrate that effective exposure control is achieved by matching the control strategy to the task rather than applying generic solutions. Each stage of ceramic production presents different opportunities for dust release, requiring proportionate engineering controls supported by good housekeeping, competent supervision and health surveillance where appropriate.

For LEV professionals, the series is an excellent reminder that successful ventilation design begins with understanding the process. By focusing on individual activities such as glaze preparation, fettling and spraying, HSE demonstrates that the most effective control measures are those integrated into the way the work is carried out.

This task-based approach remains one of the most practical and transferable models for designing robust LEV solutions across many industries, not just ceramics.