Worried about crystalline silica dust exposure at your workplace or property?
Full Spectrum Environmental offers a full spectrum of services to help you keep your employees and occupants safe. We provide onsite silica air monitoring throughout Palm Beach County, Hillsborough County, and surrounding areas.
Why Choose Full Spectrum For Silica Testing and Monitoring?
Full Spectrum Environmental provides various services to assist in controlling exposure risks. We also give you the reassurance knowing you’re working with Florida’s best environmental consulting company.
We carry out silica dust testing using NIOSH 7500 and analyzed with a NLLAP-accredited laboratory.
How is Crystalline Silica Dust Created
Occupations at risk for silica exposure include construction workers that work with rock, concrete, brick, block and mortar. Any high-energy operation such as cutting, sawing, grinding, polishing, drilling and crushing stone can create respirable crystalline silica.
- Construction & Demolition
- Stone Fabrication
- Road Building & Paving
- Mining & Quarrying
- Concrete Pouring
Crystalline Silica Health Effects
Crystalline silica dust particles can be very small—enough to become airborne and enter deep into the respiratory system. These respirable particles are often released during cutting, grinding, or demolition of materials like concrete, tile, or stone.
Workers exposed to silica may develop issues including but no limited to:
Silicosis
An irreversible lung disease causing permanent scarring.
Lung Cancer
Silica is classified as a human carcinogen.
Respiratory Diseases
Including COPD and bronchitis.
Managing Crystalline Silica Exposure
As a business, occupational health and safety legislation requires you to identify hazards, assess risks, and incorporate control measures to protect the health & safety of your worker.
What are some ways crystalline silica can be managed?
- If Silica dust sample is tested positive, the best option would be to clean the work environment and implement best management practices (BMPs)
- Best management practices may include wet methods, HEPA vacuuming, filtration, negative air pressure, and containment
- (PPE) Personal protective equipment, ongoing exposure monitoring, and continual employee safety education are crucial to prevent worker exposure and occupant exposure
Don't Compromise on Safety. Act Now.
Protect your health, your employees, and your business from the dangers of silica dust exposure. Proactive testing is the first step towards a safer, compliant environment.
Crystalline Silica Exposure Standard
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
U.S. OSHA states employers must ensure that no employee is exposed to a concentration of silica in excess of 50 micrograms of silica/cubic meter of air (µg/m3) calculated as an 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA).
Action Level
OSHA states the action-level for silica is 25 µg/m3 as 8-hr Time Weighted Average (TWA). An action level signifies a threshold of exposure to a hazard, that triggers specific employer actions to protect employees.
OSHA defines a competent person as someone who can identify existing and foreseeable respirable crystalline silica hazards. This person has the authority, knowledge and ability to promptly minimize or eliminate silica hazard. He or she will implement the written exposure control plan to the employer’s specifications. The competent person is responsible for frequently and regularly inspecting job sites, materials and equipment.
An air sample by pulling air through a cyclone at 1-2 L/min. Different cyclones allow differently-sized particles to pass through. The pump captures larger particles while smaller, respirable particles collect on a filter. Collected particles then go to a lab for analysis.
- bricks
- tiles
- concrete
- engineered and natural stone products
- sandstone
- fibre cement sheeting
50 micrograms of silica/cubic meter of air (µg/m3) calculated as an 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA)
- Maintain a list of exposure and control methods used to protect workers.
- Acknowledge practices that expose workers to silica when practical alternatives are available.
- Provide access to medical exams every three years for workers required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30+ days per year.
- Offer training to workers on tasks that result in silica exposure.
- Maintain accurate records of exposure measurements, objective data, and medical exams as required.
- Provide education on ways to limit exposure.
- Establish guidelines that restrict workers to potentially dangerous activities or environments.