Protect Yourself From Concrete Dust and Silica

1. Silica dust comes from concrete and when airborne during work it can harm your lungs when inhaled. Silica dust can develop fatal lung diseases, including lung cancer, and can even cause kidney disease.

2. The key to preventing inhalation of silica is to keep dust from getting in the air. However, hammering, drilling, sawing, grinding, even sweeping dry concrete material can make silica airborne.

3. The breathing zone is typically considered the space six inches around the head. Keeping dust out of this area prevents inhalation of that dust and the silica in that dust.

4. The air in the breathing zone should be measured to determine how much silica is entering that area. This determines if the control measures are working to keep the contaminant out of the operator's breathing zone. The operator should be told what those numbers are and what they mean.

5. One method to control the dust is to use a water mist. Concrete saws and tile saws have water at the point where the saw meets the concrete or the tile to keep the dust out of the operator's breathing zone. If the operation does not have a water attachment, consider having a helper hold a garden hose with a mister at the point of operation or provide equipment that will do the same.

6. Another method to control the dust is to collect it using a dust collection system. Some equipment comes with a system to pull that dusty air away from the breathing zone. If this is not available another method called Local Exhaust Ventilation is an option. It is a seperate machine that when placed at the point of operation, pulls the dusty air away from the breathing zone.

7. Preventing dust from becoming airborne is the primary goal however, its not always possible in the short term so the operator has to use a respirator until a method can be put into place.

8. The type of respirator used should be determined by someone qualified to make that determination. Also, if respirators are used, a respiratory protection program must be in place.

9. In what ways do you currently prevent cement dust from being inhaled?

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