Road Dust Control

Posts Tagged ‘crystalline silica’

There are different types of construction dust that is created at the workplace. The type of construction and location of the site will determine what is in the air. Unlike road dust, construction dust is more than basic road dust.

The dryer regions of the country have a problem with particle matter floating in the air whose makeup is different than wetter regions where the nuisance dust could be from the saw dust that the building tools create. The cleaning up of the loose debris is the solution for most dust problems that are actually created on the construction site that is directly caused by the construction process. The health hazards of construction site dust could include cement residue, asbestos, mineral fibers with a man made origin and the most common is wood dust.

The reason for the concern is the effects it has on the people working at the site and the surrounding region. When natural sources of dust from plants and animals combine with the airborne particles of the construction site, it could adversely affect the membranes of the occupance.

The US Department of Health and Human Service’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health consider silicosis has a major problem and cause of health problems that has its origins from construction dust. Construction dust control from the particle matter smaller the 10 micrometers or PM10 has to be approached from a different perspective  than those that are naturally occurring in our environment

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Tags: wood dust, mineral fibers, road dust control, nuisance dust, crystalline silica, Construction dust, dust control inc, particle matter

In order to limit exposure to silica and prevent silicosis, a circular issued by the labour department has asked industries, factories, project developers and contractors employing workers as stone crushers, stone quarry, construction work, glass manufacturing, quartz crushing, stone mines and other silicon dust producing works, to ensure the control of dust at work site.

They must also eliminate the use of abrasive blasting materials that contain more than one per cent crystalline silica and use dust control methods such as blast cabinets and wet drilling or sawing, it said, adding that the employers must also maintain dust control systems.

The workers must wear disposable or washable protective clothing, take shower and change clothes before leaving the worksite if possible, the circular said, adding there must be a regular monitoring of air to ensure that control systems are working.

Workers must be provided with respirators approved for protection to be used against crystalline silica containing dust when levels can not be kept below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), it said adding the employers must provide medical check-ups to workers exposed to crystalline silica.

Workers must be provided with protective equipment and training materials on the health effects of silica exposure, it added.

Tags: dust control systems, silica exposure, permissible exposure limit, stone crushers, crystalline silica