NIOSH reports that cleaning sand-mold castings with handheld chipping and grinding tools produces excessive respirable silica and that a downdraft LEV booth reduced exposures by 59% to 77%.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: HC23 — Controlling Silica Dust from Foundry Casting-Cleaning Operations ↗Dust entry
Foundry casting-cleaning dust
Respirable dust generated when foundry workers chip and grind small castings made from sand molds.
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
silicosisrespiratory diseaserespirable-silica exposure
Evidence
Controls
- downdraft local exhaust ventilation booth
- enclosure
- exposure monitoring
- wet methods where suitable
- appropriate respiratory protection