CEMENT CUTTING HAND OR PORTABLE HAZARDS
Remember: Cutting concrete exposes silica, it’s not just dust. Beyond chronic coughing and shortness of breath, long-term exposure to concrete dust heightens the risk of severe health issues, including Silicosis: It can lead to breathing problems, a severe lung condition called Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF), or lung cancer. It is estimated that 230 people develop lung cancer each year as a result of past exposure to silica dust at work. Cancer Council (Jan 10, 2024).
ISSUES
- 1. Tasks that could expose you:
- Cutting, breaking, crushing, grinding, or milling material containing silica dust
- Paving, surfacing, or cement finishing
- CMU and Bricklaying (cutting and mixing mortar)
- Demolition work (cutting cement)
- Road construction
- Employers are required to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at their workplace.
- Employers have a duty to control the risks associated with silica exposure.
- Workers must take reasonable care of their own health and safety, must not negatively affect the health and safety of other people, and follow any reasonable instruction and workplace health and safety policies.
OSHA STANDARDS
OSHA Standard Subpart Z 1926.1153 Scope and application. This section applies to all occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica in construction work, except where employee exposure will remain below 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air (25 ug/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) under any foreseeable conditions.
OSHA Standard Subpart Z 1926.1153(b) Relevant definitions:
- Action level means a concentration of airborne respirable crystalline silica of 25 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.
- Competent person means an individual who is capable of identifying existing and foreseeable respirable crystalline silica hazards in the workplace and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or minimize them. The competent person must have the knowledge and ability necessary to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in paragraph (g) of this section.
- Employee exposure means the exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica that would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.
- High-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filter means a filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient in removing mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter.
- Objective data means information, such as air monitoring data from industry-wide surveys.
- Respirable crystalline silica means quartz, cristobalite, and/or tridymite contained in airborne particles that are determined to be respirable by a sampling device designed to meet the characteristics for respirable-particle-size-selective samplers specified in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7708:1995: Air Quality—Particle Size Fraction Definitions for Health-Related Sampling.
OSHA Standard Subpart Z 1926.1153(c)(1) For each employee engaged in a task identified on Table 1, the employer shall fully and properly implement the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection specified for the task on Table 1, unless the employer assesses and limits the exposure of the employee to respirable crystalline silica in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.
FOCUS POINTS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The list below, Handheld or Portable Hazards, Subpart Z 1926.1153(c)(1) provides requirements for 18 pretested tasks performed in construction. If the task being performed is not on Handheld or Portable Hazards list, objective data or annual task specific testing is required.
- GFCI protection is required with all equipment.
- Other chemical exposures created by operations i.e. (asbestos or lead, etc.).
- If it is not on list below and testing is required the following should be completed:
- Testing for every type of product, i.e. (drywall mud for each specific product used – purple lid, green lid, black lid. etc.).
- Testing must also be in a like environment as the current activities are being conducted.
- When using respirators all the requirements for a written respirator plan is additionally required.
- Training is essential so that all employees understand the task and why proper utilization of equipment and PPE is 100% compliant.
- Cutting concrete exposes silica. Silica is not just dust.
HANDHELD OR PORTABLE HAZARDS
- Stationary masonry saws.
- Handheld power saws (any blade diameter).
- Handheld power saws doe cutting fiber-cement boards.
- Jackhammers and handheld powered chipping tools.
- Handheld grinders for mortar removal.
- Handheld and stand-mounted drills (including impact and rotary hammer drills).
- Handheld grinders for uses other than mortar removal.
OSHA REQUIREMENT SUMMARY
- Review Handheld or Portable Hazards list – Subpart Z 1926.1153(c)(1).2. Create a written exposure control plan.
- Designate a “competent person” trained in silica exposure, identification and control.
- Have a plan for housekeeping.
- Post warning signs.
- Identify and require proper respiratory protection.
- Determine if medical surveillance is required.
- Train all employees.
- Have a copy of the OSHA crystalline standard available.
- Keep thorough records of exposed employees and air monitoring data for at least 30 years.
