Crystalline silica

Quartz is the most common form of crystalline silica. Quartz is found in brick, mortar, concrete, ceramics, foundry sand and granite. Activities such as demolition, crushing, drilling, sawing, grinding, sanding and dry sweeping materials containing crystalline silica expose workers to crystalline silica dust.

Exposure to crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which is characterized by respiratory difficulties ranging from shortness of breath on exertion to severe respiratory failure. It can also lead to asthma, emphysema and lung cancer, among others.

The employer is responsible for implementing measures to control crystalline silica emissions at source to reduce them to a minimum. Where necessary, they must provide respiratory protective equipment (RPE) (in French only), put a respiratory protection program in place and train workers on the wearing, care and storage of RPE. RPE must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

For their part, workers must wear the RPE provided by the employer and use the controls at source that have been put in place.

Safety rules

Other mandatory preventive measures

Depending on the tasks to be carried out, one or more of the following measures must be taken by the employer to control the risks associated with crystalline silica: Note that the sections of the SCCI apply only to work carried out on a construction site. The sections of the ROHS that also apply to construction sites are clearly indicated below.

• Implement or improve the effectiveness of measures to control crystalline silica emissions at source. For example:
  • use wet processes
  • use equipment fitted with a source capture system
  • isolate workers from the source of dust emissions
  • use local ventilation systems
  • confine the source of the dust emissions so that workers are not exposed
     
  • S. 3.25.4 of the SCCI
  • S. 41 of the ROHS
  • S. 107 of the ROHS (this section also applies to construction sites)
  • S. 51(5) of the AOHS
• Develop and implement a respiratory protection program and train workers on the wearing, care and storage of RPE
  • S. 45.1 of the ROHS (this section also applies to construction sites)
  • S. 3.25.6 of the SCCI
• Train and inform workers on the risks associated with exposure to crystalline silica, prevention methods and safe working methods
  • S. 3.25.7 of the SCCI
  • S. 51(9) of the AOHS
• Make sure that the equipment used to prevent silica dust emissions is in working order and operating optimally during operating hours
  • S. 5 of the ROHS (this section also applies to construction sites)
• Operate and maintain equipment to control dust in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
  • S. 3.25.4 of the SCCI
• Inspect mechanical ventilation systems at least once a year
  • S. 104 of the ROHS
• Delimit the work area where workers are required to wear RPE and limit access to the workers who are carrying out the work and who are wearing appropriate RPE
  • S. 3.25.8 of the SCCI
• Ensure that a worker who carries out work that requires RPE to be worn takes off their work clothes or cleans them using appropriate methods before leaving the work area and removing their RPE
  • S. 3.25.9 of the SCCI
• When cleaning the work area, do not use methods that cause dust to become suspended in the air
  • S. 3.25.10 of the SCCI
• Wet debris from materials presumed to contain or containing crystalline silica or use an equivalent means to prevent them from being dispersed
  • S. 3.25.11 of the SCCI
• Ensure proper maintenance of the premises by limiting dust
  • S. 17 of the ROHS (this section also applies to construction sites)
• Where possible, replace silica containing materials with silica free materials or materials that contain less silica
  • S. 39 of the ROHS

Protective measures

• Respiratory protective equipment (in French only)
• Protective clothing (in French only)