Public Health Services Branch

Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health

Occupational Health Service

Occupational Health Surveillance Program Heather Howard

Commissioner

Jon S. Corzine

Governor

That cloud of dust you see when a workercuts or grinds concrete, brick, or stone is not

just harmless dust... It contains crystalline silica...

and IT CAN KILL.

Most crystalline silica is in the form of quartz. Common

sand is almost 100% quartz. Fine particles created by

cutting and grinding can get deep into the lungs. Most

concrete and masonry products contain large amounts

of sand.

When you inhale the dust, silica particles scar your lungs,

causing a disabling, irreversible, and incurable lung disease

called silicosis. The good news is that silicosis is 100%

preventable. You can work with silica-containing materials

in ways that do not result in exposure to dust.

sawing drilling

polishing

chipping chipping

drilling

grinding

clean-up clean-up

scarifying scarifying

polishing crushing crushing

milling

tuck pointing tuck pointing

Types of operations that may result

in exposure to silica dust

Some silica-containing

materials

x asphalt

x block

x brick

x ceramic tile

x concrete

x granite

x grout

x joint compound

x mortar

x pavers

x roof tiles

x sand

x slate

x some siding

x terrazzo

n New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 34:5-182)

prohibits dry cutting and dry grinding

of masonry materials.

n Hundreds of workers die of silicosis each

year in the U.S. and hundreds more

become disabled and are unable to take

care of themselves and their families.

n Since 1968, more than 14,000 workers

in the U.S. have died from silicosis.

n More than one million U.S. workers are

at risk of developing silicosis.

The construction industry has one of

the highest numbers of deaths due to

silicosis.

RISKY BUSINESS RISKY BUSINESS

Dry Cutting & Grinding is Dry Cutting & Grinding is

needle gunning

FACTS
Symptoms of Silicosis

Silicosis begins with few, if any, symptoms. Once present, these symptoms can include shortness of breath,

severe cough, wheezing, and chest tightness.

Breathing dust containing crystalline silica has also been linked to other diseases such as tuberculosis,

kidney disease, and lung cancer. Symptoms can include fever, weight loss, and night sweats. These symptoms

can become worse over time, leading to death.

New Jersey law requires that doctors and advanced practice nurses report cases of silicosis to the New Jersey

Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS).

There are three types of silicosis:

How to prevent silica exposure

The key to preventing silicosis is to keep dust out of the air. Dust controls can be as simple as a water hose to wet

the dust before it becomes airborne (see back page for tips). Employers and employees should use the following

methods to control respirable crystalline silica dust:

 Acute silicosis: Can occur after only weeks or months of exposure to very high levels of

crystalline silica. Death can occur within months.

 Accelerated silicosis: Results from exposure to high levels of crystalline silica and occurs

5 to 10 years after exposure.

 Chronic silicosis: Usually occurs after 10 or more years of exposure to crystalline silica at

low levels. This is the most common type of silicosis.

Types of silicosis and related symptoms

Dust containing silica can be generated

when cutting granite, a popular building

material used for kitchen and bathroom

countertops, and other applications.

Granite can contain up to 70% silica.

Ì Recognize when silica dust may be generated and plan ahead

to eliminate or control the dust at the source.

Ì Provide workers with training that includes information about

health effects, work practices, and protective equipment for

respirable crystalline silica.

Ì Use engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation (with

dust collectors) or wet methods to prevent the release of dust

into the air.

Ì Routinely maintain dust control systems to keep them in good

working order.

Ì Do not cause dust to become airborne during clean-up. Remove

dust from equipment with a water hose or wet-wiping rather

than with compressed air. Use vacuums with high-efficiency

particulate air (HEPA) filters, or use wet sweeping instead of

dry sweeping.
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) -

NIOSH REL is 0.05 mg/m3 as a 10-hour time-weighted average.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM

When respirators are used, the employer

must establish a comprehensive respiratory

protection program as required by the OSHA

Respiratory Protection Standard, and

outlined in the NIOSH Guide to Industrial

Respiratory Protection.

A respiratory protection program must cover

the following basic elements, as applicable:

 Periodic environmental monitoring;

 Regular training of personnel regarding

exposure and respirator use;

 Selection of appropriate

NIOSH-approved respirators;

 A medical evaluation of the worker’s

ability to perform the work while

wearing a respirator;

 Respirator fit testing (annually);

 Maintenance, inspection, cleaning, and

storage of respiratory protection equipment; and

 Procedures for regularly evaluating the

effectiveness of the program.

Ì Minimize exposures to nearby workers by using good work

practices, such as marking and posting the boundaries of

work areas where exposure to airborne dust can occur.

Ì Wear disposable or washable protective clothes at the

worksite.

Ì Shower if possible and change into clean clothes before

leaving the worksite to prevent contamination of cars, homes,

and other work areas.

Ì Conduct air monitoring to measure worker exposures and

ensure that controls are providing adequate protection for

workers.

Ì Provide annual medical examinations for all workers who

may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica.

Ì Use proper respiratory protection when engineering controls

cannot keep silica exposures below the NIOSH Recommended

Exposure Limit (REL). Respirators should not be the primary

method of protection. If engineering controls cannot keep dust

levels below the NIOSH REL, then respirators should be used.

Choosing the right respirator

 Up to 0.5 mg/m3

Half-mask air-purifying respirator with, at a minimum,

N-95 filters.

 Up to 1.25 mg/m3

Powered air-purifying respirator with, at a minimum,

N-95 filters; or supplied-air respirator with hood or helmet

operated in a continuous-flow mode.

 Up to 2.5 mg/m3

Full-facepiece air-purifying respirator with, at a minimum,

N-100 filters; or powered air-purifying respirator with

tight-fitting facepiece and high-efficiency filters.

 Up to 25 mg/m3

Positive pressure supplied-air respirator.

 Sandblasting (without cabinet and dust collector)

Type CE abrasive-blasting respirator.

New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 34:5-182) requires that employers

provide workers with full-face air-purifying respirators when

engineering controls cannot be used. Use of respirators should

be part of a complete respiratory protection program.

Air sampling is necessary to verify dust levels. NIOSH recommendations for respiratory protection for crystalline silica (as

respirable dust) concentrations in air are as follows:

This laborer using a demo saw

without water was found to be

exposed to a respirable silica

dust level that was more than

45 times the NIOSH REL, after

being monitored for only half

of a work shift. Note that other

workers are also being exposed.

Note: Although acceptable by NIOSH, an N-95 filtering facepiece

(disposable respirator) provides minimum protection. NJDHSS

recommends that the tight-fitting half-mask air-purifying respirator

be used.

Á

Á

ÁÁ

ÁÁ
Tips for controlling dust

 Use the dust collection systems available for many types of

dust-generating equipment. When purchasing equipment, look

for dust controls.

 Use local exhaust ventilation to prevent dust from being

released into the air. Always use the dust control system, and

keep it well maintained.

 Do not use equipment if the dust control system is not

working properly.

 Use equipment that provides water to the blade or grinder

when sawing or grinding concrete or masonry. Be sure to only

use blades and abrasive wheels that are rated as safe for use

with water.

 Keep in mind that dust levels can remain high for some time

even after cutting, grinding, or sweeping has stopped.

How to get help

About health problems:

If you think you have been exposed to silica dust or begin to notice symptoms such as cough and shortness of

breath, you should go to your doctor and explain your work history.

About the information presented in this fact sheet:

Contact the NJDHSS, Occupational Health Surveillance Program:

Phone: 609-984-1863 or 800-772-0062

E-mail: surveillance@doh.state.nj.us

Web site: www.nj.gov/health/eoh/survweb

Address: NJ Dept. of Health & Senior Services

Occupational Health Surveillance Program

Health & Agriculture Building, Rm 701

PO Box 360

Trenton NJ 08625-0360

About the New Jersey dry cutting law (N.J.S.A. 34:5-182):

Contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Public Safety and Occupational Safety

and Health Safety Compliance Unit, 609-292-2425.

Construction worker cutting

silica-containing ceramic tile

with a “wet saw.”