SILICA HAZARDS  (NEW)

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As you are aware the Silica Standard went into effect June 23, 2017 

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Training is required for the following:

Employees

Make sure they clearly understand the:

Health Hazards, including

• Silicosis

• Lung cancer

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease (COPD) and decreased lung function.

Exposure Controls, including

• Methods used by the employer to control employee' exposures to airborne dust, such as
   

  • Wet cutting

  • Local exhaust ventilation systems

  • Isolation of the process from the operator and surrounding employees by means of distance, enclosure or other method, as applicable

  • Work practices

• Proper use and maintenance of dust reduction systems, including the safe handling and disposal of collected waste materials
   

• The importance of good personal hygiene and housekeeping practices when working with or around dust containing crystalline silica, including:
   

  • Ensuring that hands, arms, face, and any exposed parts of the body are thoroughly washed before eating, or leaving the worksite.

  • Not smoking tobacco products.

  • Using appropriate methods to clean employees' own clothes

  • Making sure that protective clothing worn to prevent employees' own clothes from getting contaminated is safely discarded (before leaving the worksite) in a manner that does not spread contamination.

Foremen, Superintendents and Project Managers

In addition to what employees are trained on, supervision and management needs to also be able to:

• Identify tasks employees will perform that may result in employee exposure to silica containing dust, and

• Determine procedures for implementation of the measures used by the employer to reduce the exposure to concrete or masonry dust

NOTE: For activities falling within the scope of Section 1530.1, all of the above must be addressed with employees and supervision on at least an annual basis.

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