HSE states that cutting roofing tiles with cut-off saws can produce very high levels of silica-containing dust and that breathing this dust causes serious diseases including cancer and silicosis.
Source: UK HSE: Construction dust: Cutting roofing tiles ↗Dust entry
Roofing-tile dust
Silica-containing dust generated by cutting roofing tiles, especially with high-energy cut-off saws.
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
lung cancersilicosisserious respiratory disease
Evidence
NIOSH reports that cutting, crushing, drilling, or blasting cement tiles creates silica-containing dust; overexposure can cause silicosis, and cutting or dry sweeping can expose roofers to respirable silica.
Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 2 · The Facts / How Roofers are at Risk · 2
page 2 · The Facts / How Roofers are at Risk · 2
Cutting, crushing, drilling, or blasting the tiles creates silica-containing dust, which workers breathe in. Overexposure to silica can cause silicosis.
NIOSH describes silicosis as a lung disease caused by breathing silica-containing dust and says the resulting lung damage may be permanent and disabling and may lead to death.
Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 2 · What is Silicosis? · 1
page 2 · What is Silicosis? · 1
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing dust that has silica in it... Lung damage may be permanent and disabling and may lead to death.
Controls
- hand tools where possible
- water suppression
- designated cutting area
- local exhaust ventilation
- appropriate respiratory protection