While sand blasting provides effective abrasive cleaning across many industries, the practice has faced comprehensive bans in the United Kingdom dating back over 50 years due to the hazardous silica dust generated. Why is Sand Blasting Forbidden in the UK? And what safer alternatives are available today?
Health Risks of Silica Sand
The main reason sand blasting got banned in the UK is because of the super fine silica dust it makes, which wrecks your lungs if you breathe it in over time.
When the sand particles slam into metal at high speed, they shatter into dust so tiny you can’t even see it. This dust gets deep into your lung tissue when you inhale it. That causes swelling and scarring that eventually leads to nasty lung diseases like silicosis, COPD, bronchitis and even cancer.
The scary thing is you might not feel sick right away after breathing the stuff. The illness can take years to show up. But the damage keeps getting worse inside your lungs the whole time. That’s why they had to crack down on sandblasting – the silica dust it makes is no joke. It literally destroys your ability to breathe.
Regulatory History in the UK
In response to the health hazards, sand blasting has been heavily regulated in the UK dating back to the mid 20th century.
The first restrictions came in 1949 from the Silicosis and Asbestos Regulations act, which required dust suppression and containment to reduce risks. However, the lack of clear particle size limits in the definition of silica sand meant practically unrestricted use continued.
By the late 1990s, growing medical consensus on the lung risks led to explicit UK regulations prohibiting blasting with any abrasive containing over 1% crystalline silica. This essentially eliminated silica sands. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations (COSHH) now enforce the ban nationwide.
Legal Exemptions
There are limited exemptions where sand blasting is still permitted in the UK, but these are shrinking. Applications like cleaning architectural stonework may qualify if done outdoors with extensive safeguards. Any approved sand blasting requires rigorous dust containment and worker protections.
Some industrial facilities have maintained exemptions by proving silica-free local sands exist sustaining historic abrasive cleaning needs. But regulators aim to end such exemptions deemed unnecessary given suitable substitute materials.
Ongoing Precautions
While substitutes reduce silica dangers, any abrasive blasting still warrants strict controls:
- Enclosed blast rooms with dust collection systems
- Respirator masks approved for fine particulates
- Noise reduction measures
- Rotating workers out of blasting roles
- Regular medical monitoring
Ridged enforcement of sand blasting bans aims to phase out exemptions permitting the exceptionally hazardous silica. With diligent planning and protection, alternate abrasives now enable productive surface preparation without endangering health like past silica blasting.
Conclusion
The clear health risks posed by airborne silica ultimately necessitated comprehensive UK regulations banning conventional sand blasting except for highly controlled exemptions shrinking over time. Despite its effectiveness, silica sand poses dangers that safer substitute abrasives preclude. With continued precautions maximizing containment, ventilation, and PPE, alternate blast media will maintain productivity without the appalling health legacy left by uncontrolled silica exposures.
