---

CWU Updates USRs On Incorrect HSE Bulletin On Respirable Crystalline Silica

New reporting on-line form for CWU Branches and Members to report exposure to dust

CWU's Jamie McGovern, Health and Safety Policy Assistant has issued a notice to CWU USRs regarding errors in a recent HSE Bulletin, and announced a new toll for CWU Branches and members to report their exposure to hazardous dust.

He writes:

CWU USRs who receive HSE bulletin emails will probably be aware that on 6th May 2025 the HSE Shared an ‘e’ bulletin that indicated that respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can cause occupational asthma.

That information was incorrect – RCS can cause silicosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but not occupational asthma. 

The HSE have now sent out a correction email on 7th May 2025 which states  ‘Occupational asthma is an allergic reaction that can occur in some people when they are exposed to substances, for example flour or wood dust in the workplace’.

Jamie added a major annoucement on the Union's method of registering exposure using a national tool hosted by CWU HQ:

Further to my recent attendances (on behalf of the CWU) at the TUC Asbestos Health & Safety Leads committee meetings, and through conversations with the GS department, I have accepted the responsibility for the recording of new member information on an electronic asbestos/silica CWU register.

Currently older ‘hard copy’ archived documents from Dave Joyce’s old office at CWU HQ are being transferred on to a new electronic records system, this is a huge task due to the historical (and very thorough) paper records kept by Dave.

So, moving forward now, individual members or branches on behalf of members can submit information in electronically format using the survey tool below.

This form would/should be used when we have been made aware of potential harmful dust exposure events in our recognised workplaces.

This would bring us in line with other unions and the TUC recommendations for centrally recording and archiving potentially harmful dust exposure workplace events.

We do need to offer this high level of protection to both our members and the CWU, because not all branches record or archive details of such events.

You can view the form by clicking on the QR code, left.

It is important to understand the process of registering your exposure, and the seperate process of making a claim against the employer as a result of this exposure:

Please note that this form is not a claim form. If you do wish to make a claim for any injury or disease caused by exposure to asbestos you should contact Unionline on 0300 333 0303 who will advise you

The website registration form can also be accessed using this link by clicking on the image above right.

Asbestos and You - click above image to download full PDF document

To find more documents on Asbestos and Silica - click the image below to go to the unionsafety E-Library

Source: CWU / HSE / Asbestos Work Right

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services