• Silica exposure can occur during common construction tasks such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills, and jackhammers, and using heavy equipment for demolition or other tasks.
• Inhaled silica can cause silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease.

Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can cause silicosis, lung cancer, other respiratory diseases, and kidney disease. Exposure can occur during common construction tasks such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills, jackhammers and handheld powered chipping tools; operating vehicle-mounted drilling rigs; milling; operating crushing machines; and using heavy equipment for demolition or certain other tasks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s construction respirable crystalline silica requirements at 1926.1153 apply to all workers who may be subject to occupational exposure to crystalline silica in construction work, except where employee exposure will remain below 25 micrograms per cubic meter (25 μg/m3) of air as an eight-hour time-weighted average under any foreseeable conditions. For example, when only performing tasks such as mixing mortar; pouring concrete footers, slab foundation and foundation walls; and removing concrete formwork.