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Dust entry

Paving-block and kerb silica dust

Respirable silica-containing dust generated when cutting paving blocks, kerbs, or flags.

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 lung damage

Evidence

The UK Health and Safety Executive states that cutting paving blocks, kerbs, and flags with cut-off saws can produce very high levels of silica-containing dust, identifies the work as high risk, and gives water suppression, fit-tested RPE, supervision, monitoring, and health-surveillance controls. HSE reports that uncontrolled cutting can produce peak silica exposures up to 70 mg/m3 and gives an 8-hour workplace exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Identify, control and exposure limit · 3
Using cut-off saws on paving, blocks and kerbs can produce very high levels of silica containing dust. ... Uncontrolled cutting quickly produces 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 very high peak exposures of up to 70 mg/m3.

Controls