Silica Safety From Our Safety Supervisor Nevin LaBo
Here at Synapse Construction, we follow OSHA’s Table 1 rules for silica exposure. We have a silica exposure plan for any job where silica particles will be present. We value safety, and one of our main goals is to protect not only our Synapse family, but the civilians in and around silica dust as well.
OSHA Table 1
Silica Health Risks
Silicosis, or “the king of occupational diseases,” was the contributing cause of death for approximately 74 million lives between 1968 and 2002 in the United States. Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in construction materials such as sand, fiber cement, stone, concrete, brick, and mortar. When workers cut, grind, drill, or crush materials that contain crystalline silica, very small dust particles are created.
The primary health side effect of overexposure to respirable silica dust is the risk of contracting pulmonary silicosis. Pulmonary silicosis occurs when scar tissue forms in the lungs because the normal function of the respiratory cilia cannot expel the jagged shape of silica dust. Silica can penetrate the body’s natural defense systems, as it is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand. Here’s what to know about silica safety.
Primary Means of Protection
- Engineering method: In this method, an engineering solution is employed in place of personal protective equipment.
- Personal protective equipment: The personal protective equipment method consists of wearing a respirator with an assigned protection factor (APF) over 10 with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter cartridges designed to filter out silica dust.
- Signs: Signs must be posted to warn others of the potential risk of silica exposure when respiratory protection is required. The signs must read:
DANGER
RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA MAY CAUSE CANCER
CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
How Much Silica Is Too Much?
We measure exposure by:
TWA: Time weighted average
AL: Action level, 25 micrograms
PEL: Permissible exposure limit, 50 microns in one meter (one meter= 39”x39”x39”)
Our job at Synapse Construction is to make your siding restoration, window installation, and remodel dreams come true—and we strive to keep safety our number one priority. Contact us today if you have any questions regarding silica health risks or if you’d like to schedule a consultation.
