HSE states that drilling, scabbling, blasting, cutting, and grinding concrete can produce silica-containing dust, including respirable crystalline silica.
Source: UK HSE: Lung disease: higher-risk jobs and industries ↗Dust entry
Concrete dust
Dust generated by drilling, cutting, scabbling, blasting, or grinding concrete; HSE identifies these operations as potential sources of respirable crystalline silica.
Airborne form
dust
The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.
Health effects
silicosislung cancerCOPDloss of lung function
Evidence
HSE states that concrete can contain large amounts of crystalline silica and that cutting or breaking concrete can produce airborne respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis.
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Respiratory risks from cutting or breaking concrete · 1
Respiratory risks from cutting or breaking concrete · 1
Concrete can contain large amounts of crystalline silica. Cutting or breaking up concrete can produce airborne respirable crystalline silica (RCS). RCS is hazardous and causes silicosis, a serious lung disease causing permanent disability and early death.
Controls
- wet methods
- on-tool extraction
- local exhaust ventilation
- exposure monitoring
- appropriate respiratory protection