Over 10 years ago, OSHA introduced new standards for protecting workers from respirable silica. The new guidelines went into effect 9 years ago today.
There are different standards and guidance. As I understand it, there are 2 common options for controlling airborne silica during cutting or grinding applications – HEPA dust extraction and the water spray method.
Filtration and water spray methods are increasingly commonplace, or at least the tools are now widely available in the form of battery and AC-powered dust extractor vacuums and water sprayers.
Despite this, it’s clear a lot of workers are still doing things the old way.
PPE, such as respirators, are the lowest on the CDC’s hierarchy of controls, and sometimes even that isn’t used.
I was stuck in traffic yesterday, and from a block away I saw a huge plume of white smoke. What’s going on? As I got closer, I could see what was happening. Workers were cutting concrete or bricks for new sidewalk and had a leaf blower aimed at the cut line. They were surrounded by a plume of silica dust.
New neighbors across the street had their walkway redone. Plumes of dust. Other neighbor a few months ago? Plumes of silica dust.
Sometimes the workers wear disposable dust masks.
When we had new countertops installed 10 years ago, the installer had to grind the piece to fit the kitchen window. They did it on the deck and I could smell some of the dust indoors. I wasn’t happy, as I had small kids at the time. If I recall correctly, they didn’t even bother with PPE, which boggled my mind.
I’m trying to understand – why are workers still ignoring OSHA guidelines?
Why skip a respirator? Dust extractor vacuum? Water spray?
“It’s just sand.” No, it’s not. Freshly cut or fractured silica – common in concrete, brick, quartz, and other materials – is not only respirable, it’s much more reactive.
From a study in 1988, and I’m sure others:
Data presented here indicate that freshly fractured silica exhibits surface characteristics and biologic reactivity distinct from aged silica, and on this basis we propose that these surface features may lead to enhanced manifestations of lung injury.
Freshly ground silica is also more biologically reactive than aged silica, because freshly crushed silica activates a greater respiratory burst in alveolar macrophages than aged silica
Because acute silicosis is frequently associated with occupations in which freshly fractured crystalline silica of respirable size is generated, the present study suggests that fracture-generated silicon-based radicals may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Aiming a leaf blower at a cut line doesn’t seem like proper dust control.
Even if the workers had proper PPE, which I didn’t see, everyone in the nearby environment was now subjected to contaminated air.
A lot of people are lax about safety until they get a scare or suffer consequences. Is that a factor here?
Do some pros still not understand the hazard? Are employers not providing their workers with proper equipment? Are the guidelines still confusing?
Why are there still silica dust clouds at many jobsites?
