ChemSystems Inc. announces that both the Helix and HBS brands of decorative concrete admixtures have been certified by an independent laboratory to be below the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica. All affected products will have a red label stating they are in compliance. This information will also be stated in the Health and Environmental Safety section of the product label. This certification allows all Helix and HBS branded products to be used on projects with the most stringent respirable crystalline silica standards.
Effective September 23, 2017, OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standards (29 CFR 1926.1153) for construction requires employers to limit worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. The new standard requires employers, among other items, to determine the amount of silica that workers are exposed to if it is, or may reasonably be expected to be, at or above the action level of 25 μg/m3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air), averaged over an 8-hour day. ChemSystems, through a certified independent laboratory, tested all raw materials containing silica and determined them to contain < 0.006%. Further testing showed that under normal conditions the expected use of this product will not result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica that exceeds the OSHA PEL. However, actual exposure to respirable crystalline silica on a given job site can vary depending on product use and environmental conditions. Always use a dust mask and other appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE). ChemSystems has added a Respirable Crystalline Silica Compliance Statement to the packaging labels for all products containing silica, as well as a special Silica Compliance sticker to easily identify these products as being in compliance with the new OSHA standards once on the job site.
Crystalline silica is a common mineral that is found in construction materials such as sand, stone, concrete, brick, and mortar. When workers cut, grind, drill, or crush materials that contain crystalline silica, very small dust particles are created. These tiny particles (known as “respirable” particles) can travel deep into workers’ lungs and cause silicosis, an incurable and sometimes deadly lung disease. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, other potentially debilitating respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease. In most cases, these diseases occur after years of exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
ChemSystems, Inc. is a leading specialty manufacturer of decorative concrete products based in Houston, TX. With over 20 years of service, ChemSystems Inc. provides products to the decorative concrete market place under the HBS, CSI and Helix brand names. ChemSystems Inc. offers the technical expertise, network of distribution and customer support necessary to provide the highest quality of products and services for the decorative concrete industry. For additional information, contact us at (800) 545-9827 or visit us on the web www.chemsystemsinc.net
