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Dust entry

Roofing-tile silica dust

Respirable silica-containing dust generated when cutting roofing tiles, particularly with 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

silicosislung cancerpermanent lung damageearly death risk

Evidence

The UK Health and Safety Executive 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 lung diseases such as cancer and silicosis. HSE specifies water suppression, suitable respiratory protection, supervision, fit testing, and health surveillance controls.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Identify, control and health effects · 3
Using cut-off saws on roofing tiles can produce very high levels of silica containing dust. ... Dry cutting quickly produces very high peak exposure levels of silica dust. Breathing this dust causes serious lung diseases like cancer and silicosis. These diseases cause permanent disability and early death.

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