Follow safe work procedures, and use respiratory protection and.Ask your supervisor how you will be protected when performing dusty work.Learn about the control methods that can protect you.If you are a worker exposed to silica dust, you can do the following: How can you protect yourself from airborne silica dust? In most provinces in Canada, the eight-hour exposure limit for crystalline silica is only 0.025 milligrams per cubic metre of air – a very small number! The amount of dust that could cause you harm is very small and you might not be able to see it. If you are standing in a cloud of dust on a construction or roadbuilding site, you are likely overexposed to silica. These symptoms can worsen over time and lead to death. Initially, workers with silicosis may have no symptoms however, as the disease progresses, a worker may experience shortness of breath, severe cough and general weakness. The scar tissue restricts the lungs’ ability to extract oxygen from the air and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.Ĭhronic silicosis is the most common form of silicosis, and develops after years of exposure to relatively low concentrations of airborne silica. The fine particles are deposited in the lungs, causing thickening and permanent scarring of the lung tissue. One of the diseases caused by the prolonged breathing of crystalline silica dust is silicosis.
Dry sweeping or using compressed air to clean up concrete, gravel or sand dust.Abrasive blasting or hydro blasting of concrete or stone and.Demolition of concrete or masonry structures.Crushing, loading, hauling, and dumping of rock.Chipping, sawing, grinding, hammering, and drilling of rock, concrete, or masonry.If you do one of the following activities, or are working nearby, you are at risk of breathing silica dust: