‘When these materials are worked on or cut, silica is released as a fine dust that’s 100 times smaller than a grain of sand. It’s so small you can’t see it – but if you breathe it in, in some cases it can lead to lung cancer. We continually see workers cutting granite kitchen benchtops, tiles or bricks, or demolishing materials without proper protection in place, which is a very real concern.’ Lately the above extract has been read in blogs and articles spread over the internet and often tradies are still not heading the warning.
Crystalline silica (quartz) is a common mineral found in
- most rocks, sands, and clays
- products such as concrete, mortar, brick, blocks, pavers, tiles, natural and composite stone benchtops
- cement-based materials such as fibre-cement sheeting and autoclaved-aerated concrete.
Dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is generated by high-energy processes such as cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, polishing, scabbling and crushing of silica-containing materials.
RCS particles are so small they cannot be seen under ordinary lighting, and stay airborne long after larger particles have settled to the ground – the small particle size means it is easily inhaled deep into the lungs.
Certain work processes can also create RCS exposure risks, including housekeeping activities involving dry sweeping, compressed air or blowers on silica-containing dusts.
If you are a tradesman, construction manager or WHS manger you first step is ensuring PPE is being worn and it can be simply by wearing a cheap disposable dust mask. This mask will stop small to large dust and silica particles being ingested or breathed into your respiratory pathways or lungs. The immune system can eliminate some of these particles by sneezing, coughing, ingestion by the stomach but a small portion can reach the lungs. If you are regularly exposing yourself to large amounts of dust every day the body can be overwhelmed and once the dust or silica particle is encapsulated in the lungs this is the beginnings of respiratory cancer. Occupational Matters can perform onsite Occupational Hygiene Assessment at your workplace to ensure you are protected from this dangerous disease. www.occmatters.com.au