Silica Dust Control in Construction

Key Hazards

• Breathing respirable crystalline silica dust
• High dust exposure during dry cutting, grinding, or demolition
• Dust spreading to nearby workers and occupied areas
• Control failure from poor water flow or clogged collection systems
• Unsafe cleanup with dry sweeping or compressed air
• Respirator use without proper selection, fit, or program controls

2–3 Minute Talk Script

Silica Dust Control in Construction requires workers to recognize the task-specific hazards before work begins and to use the controls established for the project.

The exposure-control plan should identify silica-generating tasks, materials, work areas, control methods, restricted access, housekeeping, competent-person responsibilities, and required respiratory protection.

Approved wet methods, shrouds, local exhaust, dust collectors, HEPA filtration, and tool-specific controls should be used and maintained for the task.

Workers should inspect water delivery, hoses, shrouds, filters, vacuums, seals, and airflow before work and position controls so dust is captured at the source.

The work area should be isolated or access restricted so other employees, occupants, and the public are not exposed to airborne dust.

Cleanup should use HEPA vacuuming, wet methods, or another approved approach instead of dry sweeping or compressed air that redistributes dust.

Respirators should be used only within the required respiratory-protection program, along with training, medical evaluation, fit testing, and clean-shaven sealing surfaces where applicable.

Work should stop when visible dust escapes controls, water or vacuum systems fail, filters load up, the task differs from the plan, or required respiratory protection is unavailable.

Safety Reminders

• Identify every silica-generating task.
• Use wet methods or approved dust collection.
• Inspect controls before work begins.
• Restrict access to dusty work areas.
• Use HEPA or wet cleanup methods.
• Follow the respiratory-protection program.
• Stop when dust controls are not effective.

Ask the Crew

• What materials and tasks can release silica today?
• Which control method applies to each tool and task?
• Are water and collection systems operating effectively?
• How will nearby workers and occupants be protected?
• What cleanup and respiratory requirements apply?