Helpful Resources
According to OSHA.gov, “Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth's crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain crystalline silica. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stone.
Respirable crystalline silica – very small particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand you might find on beaches and playgrounds – is created when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Activities such as abrasive blasting with sand; sawing brick or concrete; sanding or drilling into concrete walls; grinding mortar; manufacturing brick, concrete blocks, stone countertops, or ceramic products; and cutting or crushing stone result in worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica dust. Industrial sand used in certain operations, such as foundry work and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), is also a source of respirable crystalline silica exposure. About 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work.
Workers who inhale these very small crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, including:
- Silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Kidney disease
To protect workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica, OSHA has issued two respirable crystalline silica standards” including one for construction; the construction standards are what we use at Evolution Maintenance.
This information is covered under the OSHA Small Entity Compliance Guide (this is considered a supplemental section to the overall Evolution Maintenance Safety Policy). This guide is readily available through the links below and it is expected that all employees will review this document and take appropriate steps to comply.
Additionally, more resources related to Crystalline silica safety can also be found below. Please refer to these best practices and tips to ensure compliance with the policy.
The vast majority, if not all, of the tasks we perform at Evolution Maintenance (pouring concrete for posts, cutting tile, some saw cutting for plumbing) are usually short time period events and should be safely performed utilizing the standards outlined in this document including things such as:
- Wearing respirators that comply with requirements of the silica standard and with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134)
- Using tools equipped with integrated water delivery system that supplies water to cutting surface
- Using HEPA-filtered vacuum when cleaning holes and other areas
- When appropriate, perform work such as tile cutting outside (still wearing the respirator and using the water supplied cutting surface). This will also help minimize any dust/debris inside the customer’s facility.
