According to OSHA, crystalline silica is contained in materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar. It is also found in manufactured products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, artificial stone, and stone countertops (quartz and granite). Working with these types of materials and products can produce fine respirable or breathable crystalline silica dust.
Certain activities will create a breathable cloud of dust. This includes cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing materials like stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Workers performing these tasks are at heightened risk of exposure to crystalline silica dust. Those who endure extensive or prolonged exposure can develop silicosis. Activities that produce crystalline silica dust include:
- Grinding Mortar
- Sawing Brick, Concrete
- Cutting, Crushing Stone
- Abrasive Blasting with Sand
- Sanding, Drilling into Concrete Walls
- Manufacturing and Sweeping up after work with Brick, Concrete Blocks, Stone Countertops, Ceramic Products
While sand, stone, concrete, and mortar are common in masonry, they are also used in a variety of other industries and trades. One such industry is the manufacturing of stone countertops. With the popularity of quartz, granite, and especially artificial stone materials, workers are at significant risk of crystalline silica exposure in the fabrication shop and during in-home installation. Here is a list of jobs at risk for crystalline silica dust
exposure:
- Painting
- Plumbing
- Demolition
- Sandblasting
- Construction
- Stone Crushing
- Mining, Tunneling
- Railroad Construction
- Masonry, Cement Work
- Manufacturing Glass Product
- Rock Drilling, Rock Quarry Work
- Foundry Workers, Sand Mold Shakeout
- Cutting, Manufacturing Heat-Resistant Bricks
- Stone Countertop Fabrication, Finishing, and Installation
