In an attempt to educate workers and help prevent silicosis, the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration have developed and released a fact sheet entitled “Reducing Silica Exposure Fact Sheet.”
Concrete cutting, coring, drilling and quarrying are among the jobs that can involve airborne exposure to silica, potentially causing silicosis. Cutting wet is the preferred method of reducing employee exposure to silica dust, while using engineering controls such as ventilation is also effective.
The new Alliance Best Practice on silica outlines a best practice for employers and employees of concrete cutting companies.
About Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association
The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association is a nonprofit trade association of contractors, manufacturers and affiliated members from both the construction and renovation industry. Diamond tools for projects requiring sawing, drilling, selective demolition, cutting and polishing offers the construction industry many benefits. These include lower total project costs, precision cutting, maintenance of structural integrity, reduced downtime, reduced noise, dust and debris. It also includes limited access cutting and the ability to cut heavily-reinforced concrete. Founded in 1972, CSDA has 500 member companies worldwide.
The CSDA mission is to promote the use of professional cutting, polishing, imaging and selective demolition contractors and their methods. In support of this goal, the CSDA Code of Ethics demands that members pursue the highest standards of safety, quality and integrity. A second objective is to provide a forum in which members can share their ideas, needs and concerns in a constructive framework to further enhance technologies, education and training.
