Breathing in this fine dust can cause a serious lung disease called silicosis. This document will help employers develop an exposure control plan ECP for work involving the cutting, grinding, and polishing of stone containing crystalline silica.
For example, a study from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia looked at the effects of long-term exposure to cement dust. The researchers looked specifically at the effects of cement dust on lung function among mill workers, who were divided into three groups: those that worked in the mill for less than five years, five to ten years, and over ten years.
Two workers were , and all seven of the workers were Hispanic. They had worked at 12 Colorado companies during 1984–2018, most of which employed <50 workers. Five patients reported cutting, grinding, and polishing mainly engineered stone; two reported only bystander exposure to engineered stone dust during workplace housekeeping duties.
Exposure to silica dust is a health hazard for workers who manufacture, finish, and install natural and engineered stone countertop products. Symptoms of silicosis may include cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Silicosis typically occurs after 10 or more years of exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
Health concerns emerge. The trouble is, workers have gotten sick, and even died, after cutting this engineered stone and breathing in its dangerous dust, public health officials say.
However, cutting, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling, and polishing natural and manufactured stone products can release hazardous levels of very small, crystalline silica dust particles into the air that workers breathe. Working with ground quartz in the countertop manufacturing industry can also expose workers to dangerous silica dust.
Anderson said uncontrolled dry cutting and stone grinding of manufactured stone is now banned in the state with any corporations who breach this reform facing a maximum $30,000 fine. “We know dry cutting is a key cause of silica exposure, and it’s highly preventable by wet cutting or using the right dust capturing measures,” he said.
Site audits carried out by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland between 2009 and 2012 also found crystalline silica dust exposure could also be experienced by workers in concrete plants, precast concrete block production and installation workers, and on-site construction workers generally.