Progress report on the European SILICOAT research project
As already presented at the Würzburg Brick and Tile Training Course 2012, the project co-financed with European research funds is aimed at reducing the hazard of respirable crystalline silica at the workplace. The approach pursued by the research institutes is to modify the surface of the silica so that there is no longer any health hazard when it is inhaled.
Now it is important to find substances suitable to guarantee the required surface protection. These must also be affordable and they must not lose their properties in the industrial production process. Finally, the quality of the products should not suffer as a result of the additives. Important progress has already been made in the laboratory, work is currently being done on implementation in factories.
A brief report is also given on the current discussion on the pending tightening up of silica dust limits in Germany and its consequences.
RA Martin Roth,
Federal Association of the German Brick and Tile Industry Regd
