On 16 May 2024, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) announced a series of inspections this summer targeting industries with potential exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). These inspections aim to ensure compliance with safety measures to prevent RCS exposure  and improve workplace safety.

Every day, thousands of workers are exposed to quartz-containing rock dust, which can lead to serious health issues such as lung cancer, allergies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To address this, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority will carry out nationwide inspections focusing on how well companies mitigate the risks associated with exposure to RCS.

Nationwide Inspections Targeting the Construction Industry

The upcoming inspections will be carried out throughout the country, primarily in the construction industry. The aim is to assess whether companies have adequately mapped and risk assessed the presence of quartz and implemented sufficient risk reduction measures.

Effective Measures to Reduce Quartz Exposure

Reducing exposure to quartz dust requires the implementation of both technical and organizational measures. Priority should be given to the following collective measures that protect all employees:

Technical Measures:

- Ensure that work equipment complies with regulations and includes dust collection systems.

- Use closed cabins with HEPA filters and positive pressure.

- Implement watering techniques to suppress dust.

Organizational Measures:

- Limit simultaneous work and presence in contaminated areas.

- Establish good routines for operation, maintenance, and cleaning.

- Training employees in safe working habits, such as avoiding the transfer of dust into clean areas and keeping vehicle windows closed.

If technical and organizational measures do not sufficiently reduce quartz exposure, workers must use personal protective equipment, such as respirators with P3 filters, especially during activities such as blasting, drilling, and crushing in construction.

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's proactive approach underlines its commitment to protecting workers’ health and ensuring industry-wide compliance with safety regulations.

In two of the recent surveillance projects conducted by the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA), mixed results were found in random checks of kitchen equipment, where several substances were detected above the permitted limit; but non-compliance was not spotted in cases for both car and boat care products.

Among the 36 kitchen products tested, such as blenders and baking equipment, the inspectors from the NEA tested the following substances:

• heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury); 
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); 
• phthalates; 
• short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs); and 
• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). 

In total, five electronic products and one paper product failed to meet the compliance, where the paper product, the muffin tins, contained PFOA at 0.054mg/kg. This exceeded the limit value of 0.025mg/kg or 1mg/kg for the sum of PFOA-related compounds. As a result of non-compliance, these six products have been withdrawn from the market.

As for the electronic products, they contained lead and cadmium, which were both above the permitted limits. Moreover, two of these products also lacked the CE-marking, i.e. lacked the certificated indication of compliance regarding product safety with the Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electronic and electrical equipment.

For tests carried out on car and boat care products, the NEA found no compliance issues among the 13 products tested, including varnish, polish, and lubricant, meaning there was no detectable violation of regulation toward PFOA and PFOA-related compounds. Although four of the tested products contained polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), it was shown below the permitted level; the remaining nine products showed no fluorine content.