Protections against silica dust exposure
10/02/2025
Respirable crystalline silica enters the body when dust containing a proportion of crystalline silica is inhaled. Its dust travels into human lungs affecting our health and being a risk. Because of that, we must be aware of what protections are needed and how to work with this hazard.
There are several actions that can be taken by companies to manage the dust created and minimize exposure to silica dust among workers. These are the most common:
- Enclosure: Conducting silica dust-producing processes in a sealed environment
- Water: Keeping processes wet to prevent dust from becoming airborne
- Extraction/Ventilation: Ensuring that RCS is extracted and stored for secure removal
- Protective equipment: Preventing dust from being breathed in (eg. face masks)
- Good hygiene: Washing work clothes and vacuuming up dust produced by processes
- Specific requirement: When grinding, scarifying or blasting materials that contain silica, the machine should be equipped with a local dust connection, which will allow it to work dust-free when connected to an appropriate dust Collector
If you are interested in learning more about silica dust and other hazardous substances, do not miss EDI Special Publication 2024.
