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815 Demolition Safety
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How Silica is Generated

Silica dust can be generated when materials such as ceramics, concrete, masonry, rock and sand are mixed, blasted, chipped, cut, crushed, drilled, dumped, ground, or driven upon.

Employees at construction sites may be exposed to silica dust during general housekeeping activities such as sweeping, emptying vacuum cleaners and using compressed air for cleaning. Silica exposures may also occur whenever silica-containing dusts are disturbed, such as during material handling. The small particles generated during these activities easily become suspended in the air and, when inhaled, penetrate deep into employees' lungs.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

9-2. What type of material can be turned into silica when mixed, blasted, chipped, cut, crushed, drilled, dumped, ground, mixed or driven upon?