Workers must be hyper-vigilant about protecting themselves from the lurking danger of silica dust on construction sites.

Silica dust is any microscopic, inorganic particle that is released from cutting, crushing, grinding, sawing, or drilling materials like concrete, stone, brick, block, mortar, and sand. It’s hazardous and can cause a number of health problems, like the chronic coughing and breathlessness of silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, and more. While long-term exposure to silica dust is most often the cause of health issues, acute, severe disease can develop within months or even weeks of high-level exposure. Construction workers need to know where the dangers are, and how to protect themselves, in order to limit exposure. 

Tucker Paving has been in the construction industry for over 30 years, and concrete, asphalt, and Earthworks can all be a source of silica dust. See the measures we share with our employees to protect themselves from silica dust.

Protect Yourself From Silica Dust

These are the most common sources of silica dust and the measures we share with our employees to limit their exposure to it:

Dust in the air. Heavy equipment can churn up silica dust on construction sites. 

Preventative Measures:

  • Use a water truck to help settle dust on worksites, especially where heavy equipment travels near ground workers.
  • Require trucks and equipment to slow down even more than normal when operating near workers to prevent stirring dust.
  • Reroute trucks or vehicles away from workers when practical.

Cutting or Demolishing Concrete/ Block/ Asphalt, etc. Any action that breaks or crushes concrete, asphalt, stone, brick, block, mortar, or sand can create silica dust.

Preventative Measures:

  • When sawing concrete or asphalt with demo saws, use hose attachments or someone with a water sprayer to spray the blade to reduce dusting. Water! Water! Water! 
  • Wear a mask or bandana to reduce dust inhalation. 
  • Position yourself to use the wind to your advantage so any remaining dust blows away from you when sawing.

Dust is Microscopic. It’s important to remember that any dust cloud you see is larger than what is visible.  Dust particles are so small that they are invisible, and they only become visible when the air is past the point of saturation.

Preventative Measures:

  • Wear a mask or bandana to reduce dust inhalation.
  • Wipe the inside of your vehicle or equipment regularly to prevent dust buildup.
  • Use your PPE every time as damage from silica dust builds up over time.

Tucker Paving offers site construction services; our Earthwork services include site clearing, site grading, stabilized subgrade, base work, and underground utilities! It’s in addition to our over three decades in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or fill out our contact form online, to let us help you with your next Earthworks project!