Silica Dust Control

Why it matters

That white cloud when you cut concrete or block is crystalline silica, and it scars lungs permanently. Silicosis has no cure and shows up years after the exposure. OSHA’s silica rule is strict because the damage is invisible until it is too late. Water and vacuums are cheap; lungs are not.

Hazards

• ⚠ Dry-cutting concrete, block, brick, or stone
• ⚠ Dry-sweeping dust instead of vacuuming or wetting it
• ⚠ Grinding and coring without dust collection
• ⚠ Dust drifting onto coworkers downwind of the cut
• ⚠ Respirators worn wrong or not at all during high-exposure tasks

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Cut wet. Use tools with integrated water delivery to knock dust down at the blade.
• ✓ Where wet methods are not possible, use tools with shrouds connected to HEPA vacuums.
• ✓ Follow Table 1 of the silica standard for your task and the required respiratory protection.
• ✓ Never dry sweep. Use a HEPA vacuum or wet methods for cleanup.
• ✓ Position cutting stations downwind and away from other workers.
• ✓ If your task requires a respirator, you need a fit test and medical evaluation first.

Crew discussion questions

1. Which tasks today involve cutting, grinding, or coring concrete or masonry?
2. Is the water feed or vacuum on every saw actually working?
3. Who is working downwind of the cutting station?
4. Where does the dusty cleanup go: vacuum or wet, never the broom?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.1153

More toolbox talks

• Ladder Safety
• Fall Protection Basics
• Heat Illness Prevention
• Lockout / Tagout: Controlling Energized Circuits
• Trench and Excavation Safety
• PPE Head to Toe

Safety plans by trade

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