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Dust entry

Concrete scabbling and grinding silica dust

Respirable silica-containing dust generated by scabbling or grinding concrete and other construction materials.

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

silica exposuresilicosis risklung cancer riskpermanent respiratory harm

Evidence

The UK Health and Safety Executive states that scabbling and grinding concrete or other construction materials can produce very high levels of silica-containing dust and identifies the work as high risk. HSE reports an 8-hour silica workplace exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 and peak exposures around 1–2 mg/m3 during uncontrolled grinding.

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Identify, control and exposure limit · 3
Scabbling and grinding concrete or other construction materials can produce very high levels of silica containing dust. ... When uncontrolled these tasks quickly produce very high levels of silica containing dust. The Workplace Exposure Limit for silica is 0.1 mg/m3 when averaged over 8 hours. The work quickly produces high peak exposures of around 1-2 mg/m3.

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