Kynoch Environmental Management assists clients to keep them in compliance with OSHA regulations regarding crystalline silica.  Our services include consulting about relevant OSHA laws, potential liability exposure, development of written exposure control plans, monitoring protocols & exposure monitoring. 

 

Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in many naturally occurring materials like sand, concrete, stone, and mortar. Glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, concrete and artificial stone also contain silica. 

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Respirable crystalline silica is generated by high-energy operations like cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing such materials or when using industrial sand. This includes activities such as:

• abrasive blasting with sand

• sawing brick or concrete

• sanding or drilling into concrete walls

• grinding mortar

• manufacturing brick, concrete blocks, or ceramic products

• cutting or crushing stone

 

Inhaling very small (“respirable”) crystalline silica particles causes multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.

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OSHA estimates that around 2.3 million workers are exposed to crystalline silica on the job. Construction and maintenance workers are at particularly high risk.

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For this reason, OSHA requires employers to develop a written Exposure Control Plan and to provide monitoring to determine exposures of employees that work in and around environments that might produce airborne crystalline silica. OSHA rules apply to a number of different construction tasks, each of which includes requirements for engineering controls, work practices, respiratory protection & exposure monitoring.

 

KEM helps clients determine OSHA regulations that are relevant for their workplace and develops the required written exposure control plan & exposure monitoring that ensures OSHA compliance.