Many common construction work tasks generate harmful levels of crystalline silica dust if proper controls are not followed. When silica dust builds up in your lungs, you are at risk of developing a serious lung disease called silicosis, which can lead to death. Silicosis is not curable, but it is preventable. The more you know about silica dust, the better prepared you will be to adequately protect yourself.

What is Silica?

Silica is the basic component of sand and rock. The best-known and most abundant type of crystalline silica is quartz. Some common silica-containing materials include:

• Concrete, concrete block, cement and mortar
• Masonry and tiles
• Brick, refractory brick
• Composite products such as Hardiplank
• Granite, sand, fill dirt, top soil
• Asphalt containing rock or stone
• Abrasive used for blasting

Construction workers may be exposed to silica when working with these materials.

Are You Exposed to Silica Dust?

If you do one of the following activities, you are at risk of breathing silica dust:

• Chipping, sawing, grinding, hammering, and drilling of rock, concrete, or masonry
• Crushing, loading, hauling, and dumping of rock
• Sawing, hammering, drilling, grinding, and chipping of concrete or masonry structures
• Demolition of concrete or masonry structures
• Power cutting or dressing stone
• Facade renovation, including tuckpoint work
• Abrasive blasting and hydroblasting of concrete
• Clean-up activities such as dry sweeping or pressurized air blowing of concrete or sand dust
• Tunneling, excavation, and earth moving of soils with high silica content

How is Silica Disease Prevented?

The key to silica disease prevention is to prevent the dust from getting into the workplace air. If you are exposed to silica dust, ask your employer to explain the dust controls that will be used to protect you.

Silica dust exposure is a serious hazard in construction. Understanding where it comes from and how to prevent it can save lives. At GamaSafety, we emphasize prevention through awareness and effective dust control methods.

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