Silica dust (Crystalline Silica) is created when cutting, grinding, sanding, or otherwise creating dust from concrete, stone, ceramics, masonry, and other similar materials. Crystalline silica has been known to be a health danger for many years. The breathing in of small silica dust particles has been shown to cause lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently adopted a new regulation in regards to airborne silica. The rule came into effect on June 23, 2016, which means that employers in the construction industry have one year from that date to become compliant with most of the rules’ requirements. The rule is said to affect over 2 million US workers in several industries. On April 6, 2017, OSHA revised the Enforcement Date to September 23, 2017.
Additional information about the new Rule and its impact on the construction industry can also be found on the trade journal Jobsite.
What can American Abatement do?
We are trained in the removal of silica dust from any type of commercial or residential building that may have become contaminated.