NFRC Launches Cut the Dust Campaign to Tackle Deadly Silica Exposure in Roofing Industry

National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has launched Cut the Dust, a major new industry-wide campaign aimed at tackling the serious and often overlooked dangers of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust exposure across the roofing sector.

As part of NFRC’s ongoing commitment to drive change and raise standards across the industry, Cut the Dust is the first of three dedicated Health, Safety and Wellbeing campaigns the trade association will roll out this year. The initiative and associated resources are designed to improve awareness, change behaviours and provide practical support to help eliminate harmful silica dust exposure from everyday roofing activities. 

The resources are available to all roofing and cladding businesses

Respirable crystalline silica dust is generated during common tasks such as cutting tiles, slates and mortar. While the effects are not immediate, repeated exposure over time can cause irreversible and life-threatening illnesses including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and kidney disease. Because the dust particles are microscopic, workers may be exposed without realising the damage being caused.

Led by Gary Walpole, NFRC’s technical safety, health and environment officer, the campaign is focused on supporting everyone involved in the manufacture, distribution and installation of roofing materials to understand the risks, identify unsafe practices and adopt safer methods of working.

Speaking on the campaign, Gary said,

“The roofing industry has made great progress in preventing accidents and enforcing safer workplaces, but we must now collectively tackle this silent but critical threat that has been overlooked for too long.

“Cut the Dust is about making good practice the default by building better habits to control dust at source and taking responsibility to put it right where risks cannot be fully controlled.

“We must challenge the normalisation of poor practice such as ‘it’s only a quick cut’ or ‘we’ve always done it this way’. Compliance alone doesn’t change outcomes, behaviour does.”

The campaign calls on roofers, contractors, principal contractors, merchants, manufacturers and suppliers to take the Cut the Dust Pledge, committing to five simple but vital actions:

• Control every cut – no uncontrolled dry cutting
• Use water suppression or on-tool extraction
• Wear suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE), with minimum FFP3 protection where required
• Eliminate dry sweeping and blowing of dust
• Train teams and challenge unsafe practices

Anyone who pledges support through the NFRC website will receive a campaign pack containing educational resources, practical guidance materials, and a certificate demonstrating their commitment to safer working practices.

By launching Cut the Dust, NFRC is urging the roofing industry to recognise that silica exposure is preventable, and that meaningful change starts with everyday decisions on site.

To find out more or make the pledge, visit //nfrc.co.uk/cut-the-dust