Thursday, June 6, 2019
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Commercial Council Board Membership Meeting
“Silica dust….are you protecting your employees and meeting the new OSHA standard?”
Presenter: Donny Hines, Safety Specialist | Associated Builders and Contractors of MN/ND
Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth's crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain crystalline silica. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stone.
Respirable crystalline silica – very small particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand you might find on beaches and playgrounds – is created when cutting, sawing, crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Activities such as abrasive blasting with sand; sawing/sanding/drilling brick or concrete; stone countertops, or ceramic products; etc result in worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica dust. About 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work.
Workers who inhale these very small crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, including:
- Silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Kidney disease
To protect workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica, OSHA has issued two respirable crystalline silica standards: one for construction, and the other for general industry and maritime.
Be sure to attend this meeting to be in compliance with the new OSHA standard.
Click "Register"
Call 320.251.4382 or email colleen@cmbaonline.org
Sponsor:TBD
