Quantify silica exposure before it becomes a silicosis case. Prove your control.
We measure RCS exposure in real working environments using personal cyclone sampling and X-ray diffraction analysis, providing defensible data against the 0.1 mg/m³ WEL.
- UK-wide since 2013
- Independent assessments
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Practical control advice
What this means for you
Evidence you can act on and defend.
Measured exposure evidence
Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.
Independent assessment
Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.
Practical control recommendations
Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.
Compliance support
Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.
Speak with a respirable crystalline silica specialist
0800 433 7914
sales@sysco-env.co.ukMon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope
Typical response: same working day
What happens next
Most RCS surveys are completed with minimal disruption.
We attend during normal cutting / grinding activities, sample the workers most at risk, evaluate water suppression and on-tool extraction performance, and return a clear action plan within agreed timescales.
No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.
Whether exposure is controlled
A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.
Where the highest risks are
Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.
What actions matter most
A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.
What you get
Four answers. One clear plan.
You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.
That is exactly what we deliver.
Know what your team breathes
We measure real exposure on the people most at risk, using validated methods for respirable crystalline silica — no guesswork.
Know where you stand legally
We compare your numbers to the WEL of 0.1 mg/m³ (8-h TWA) and the proposed lower limits under review.
Know if your controls work
An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, RPE and work practices — what's effective and what isn't.
Get a report you can act on
Clear findings and a prioritised action plan suitable for HSE, insurers and operational management.
Why clients call
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
- 01
An auditor is asking
HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances
We provide measured respirable crystalline silica data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.
- 02
Your team is worried
Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms
We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.
- 03
You suspect a problem
You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis
We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.
What we answer for you
Three questions, settled.
- Where your people are exposed
- We map the tasks, areas and shifts where respirable crystalline silica matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
- Whether your controls are working
- An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
- What you need to fix first
- A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.
How we work with you
From your first call to your action plan.
- 1
We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.
- 2
We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.
- 3
We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for respirable crystalline silica.
- 4
We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.
- 5
You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.
- 6
We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.
Typical survey outputs
What you receive at the end of the engagement.
- Personal exposure monitoring data
- RCS personal sampling against EH40 limits
- Static / area sampling where required
- LEV and ventilation observations
- RPE suitability review
- Exposure risk mapping by task
- Prioritised corrective actions
- Defensible technical report
Client testimony
“The Sysco silica report gave us numbers, photos and a fix list — straight to our project manager and into the next site induction.”
— Health & safety lead
UK demolition contractor
Typical environments we assess
Wherever respirable crystalline silica risk affects your people.
- Construction sites
- Stone masonry workshops
- Quarries & processing
- Demolition operations
- Tunnelling projects
- Brick / block production
Background
Respirable crystalline silica, in detail.
- What is respirable crystalline silica?
- Health effects of silica exposure
- How RCS monitoring works
- Exposure limits and the legal framew…
- Practical silica controls
What is respirable crystalline silica?
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is the fraction of crystalline silica dust small enough to penetrate the deep lung — broadly the sub-4-micron aerodynamic fraction. It is generated by cutting, grinding, drilling, blasting and abrading silica-bearing materials such as concrete, mortar, sandstone, granite, brick and engineered stone.
Health effects of silica exposure
Long-term inhalation causes silicosis — an irreversible fibrotic lung disease. RCS is also a Group 1 IARC carcinogen and is associated with COPD, kidney disease and an increased risk of tuberculosis. Engineered stone fabrication has produced an unusually rapid onset of silicosis worldwide and is under regulatory review.
How RCS monitoring works
We sample personal breathing-zone exposure using cyclone respirable samplers (typically GK2.69 or Higgins-Dewell at 2.2 L/min) loaded with PVC filters. Filters are analysed by XRD or FTIR to UKAS-accredited methods. Sampling durations target an 8-hour TWA representative of the worker's actual day.
Exposure limits and the legal framework
The current WEL is 0.1 mg/m³ (respirable, 8-h TWA). Industry consensus and HSE consultation are pushing toward 0.05 mg/m³. The carcinogens regime under COSHH applies, requiring exposure to be reduced as low as is reasonably practicable.
Practical silica controls
Wet cutting, on-tool extraction (M-class minimum), water suppression on crushers, enclosure of high-emission processes and well-fit-tested respiratory protection. Health surveillance for exposed workers is required.
Related services
Often assessed alongside respirable crystalline silica.
Diesel exhaust (DEEE)
Personal sampling and elemental carbon analysis for diesel-exposed environments.
Explore 02Boundary dust monitoring
PM10/PM2.5 monitoring for construction and demolition with planning-condition reporting.
Explore 03Hazardous substances (COSHH)
Full COSHH exposure assessments across solvents, dusts, fumes and bio-aerosols.
Explore 04LEV testing (TExT)
Statutory thorough examination & test of extraction systems under COSHH reg 9.
ExploreCommon questions
Respirable Crystalline Silica — FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.
- What is the legal exposure limit for silica?
- 0.1 mg/m³ respirable as an 8-h TWA. Lower limits are under regulatory review.
- What's the difference between cyclone and IOM sampling?
- Cyclone samplers separate the respirable fraction (sub-4 micron) — the only fraction relevant to silicosis risk. IOM heads sample the inhalable fraction and are used for other dusts.
- Do you cover engineered stone?
- Yes — engineered stone fabrication is a high-priority area and we sample, advise on controls and support health surveillance referrals.
- Can you sample on construction sites?
- Yes — we routinely deploy on active construction, demolition and tunnelling projects with appropriate permits and PPE.
- How quickly will I receive results?
- Draft results are typically issued within 10 working days of the laboratory returning analysis.
- Do you support health surveillance?
- We can provide an exposure dataset suitable for an occupational health provider's silicosis surveillance programme.
Speak with a respirable crystalline silica specialist
Tell us where the dust is. We'll come back with a plan.
Tell us
- the tasks and materials of concern,
- current dust controls in place,
- approximate worker numbers,
- and your reporting deadline.
We will provide
- a clear scope,
- fixed quotation,
- proposed attendance strategy,
- and expected reporting timeframe.
Send us a brief
Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.
From the field
Related case studies & insights
- Field note
Respirable Crystalline Silica in the UK Workplace: Causes, Effects, and Prevention
Read article - Case study
Kitchen Worktops and Silica Exposure: An In Depth Occupational Health Risk Assessment
Read case study - Field note
Best Practice When Air Sampling for Silica — A Hidden Threat in Industrial Workplaces
Read article