• 
• About
  • Purpose & Who We Are
  • Press
  • Supporters
• Know the Hazard
  • Why is Silica Hazardous?
  • What’s the Risk?
  • Who’s At Risk?
  • What are the Health Effects?
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Screening & Treatment
  • Take Action
  • Contractors
  • Workers
• Regulations & Requirements
  • OSHA Construction Standard
  • OSHA General Industry Standard (including Oil & Gas)
  • OSHA Special Emphasis Program and Directives
  • Voluntary
  • Other
  • Status of Regulatory Efforts
  • OSHA Rulemaking - Final Rule Issued
  • History
  • Timeline
• What's New
  • On the Site
  • In the News
  • Recent Research
• Create-A-Plan

Controlling Silica Dust – Learning from Each Other

 

Videos

Tuckpointing Shroud (approximately 1 minute); Tools of the Trade -- Demonstration of the Dust Director Shroud attached to a Metabo grinder "that allows masons to remove mortar without creating choking clouds of dust."

Silica Control in Construction.wmv (approximately 4 minutes); Georgia Tech’s Safety and Health Consultation Program - A brief introduction to common methods to reduce employee exposure to silica dust on a construction site.

Drywall Dust Engineering Control (running time approximately 7 minutes); CPWR -- Shows the use of a vacuum control to reduce dusts produced during drywall work using real-time monitoring.

Engineering Controls for Silica in Construction: Jackhammer; (2 videos running time approximately 10 seconds each); NIOSH – Shows a worker using a jackhammer to break concrete without a dust control and with a water spray dust control attachment.

Engineering Controls for Silica in Construction: Concrete Grinder; (2 videos running time approximately 7 seconds each); NIOSH – Shows a worker using a concrete grinder without a dust control and with a vacuum dust control system.

Engineering Controls for Silica in Construction: Cut-off Saw; (3 videos running time approximately 4 minutes, 6 minutes, respectively); OSHA – Shows a worker using a cut-off saw without a dust control and with water and vacuum controls.

Engineering Controls for Silica in Construction: Tuckpointing Grinder; (3 videos running time approximately 4 minutes and 7 seconds, respectively); OSHA – Shows a worker using a grinder without a dust control and with water and with vacuum controls.

Workers are the Experts (running time approximately 6 minutes); CPWR -- Shows how construction workers' ideas can improve safety and health on site. Features a vacuum system to reduce silica exposures during tuckpointing, as well as a safe bridge construction project, a crane mirror system, and ergonomic improvements on Boston's Big Dig.

To see examples of tools and controls available from manufacturers, as well as videos demonstrating their use click here:  Create-A-Plan.

Other Examples

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Control of Hazardous Dust During Tuckpointing; NIOSH – description of exposure and discussion of controls.

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Water Spray Control of Hazardous Dust When Breaking Concrete with a Jackhammer; NIOSH – description of exposure and discussion of controls, and personal hygiene.

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Reducing Hazardous Dust Exposure When Dowel Drilling in Concrete; NIOSH – description of exposure and discussion of controls, and personal hygiene.

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Reducing Hazardous Dust Exposure When Cutting Fiber-Cement Siding; NIOSH – description of exposure and discussion of controls, and personal hygiene.

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Reducing Hazardous Dust Exposure When Rock Drilling During Construction; NIOSH - description of exposure and discussion of controls, and personal hygiene.

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Reducing Hazardous Dust in Enclosed Operator Cabs During Construction; NIOSH - description of exposure and discussion of controls, and personal hygiene.

WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS: Control of Hazardous Dust When Grinding Concrete; NIOSH - description of exposure and discussion of controls, and personal hygiene.

Reducing Silica Exposure During Lateral Drilling of Concrete; University of California – Description of jig developed and silica exposure reduction achieved when using the  jig with a vacuum.

Interventions for Overhead Drilling into Concrete; University of California – Description of inverted drill press developed and silica exposure reduction achieved when using the device with a vacuum. 

Photos – Examples With and Without Controls

Photos courtesy of the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services' NIOSH-funded Silicosis Surveillance Project, DeWalt, OSHA, and the International Masonry Institute

EXAMPLES WITHOUT CONTROLS		EXAMPLES WITH CONTROLS
Right-Angle Grinder without Control		Right-Angle Grinder with Vacuum Control
Walk-Behind Concrete Saw without Control		Walk-Behind Concrete Saw with Water Control
Hand-Held Saw without Control		Hand-Held Saw with Water Control
Stationary Saw without Control		Stationary Saw with Water Control
Handheld Grinder without Control		Handheld Grinder with Vacuum Control
Handheld Grinder without Control		Handheld Grinder with Water Control
Jackhammer without Control		Jackhammer with Water Control
Handheld Powered Chipping Tool without Control		Handheld Powered Chipping Tool with Vacuum Control
Dowel Drilling Rig without Control		Dowel Drilling Rig with Vacuum Control
Handheld Grinder for Tuckpointing without Control		Handheld Grinder for Tuckpointing with Vacuum Control
Handheld Drill without Control		Handheld Drill with Vacuum Control