What Is Silica And What Do Employees Need To Know About It?

Many workplace hazards are easily recognized because of their obvious consequences—loss of limb, fatal falling distance, severe burns—but some hazards are not so apparent. 

Crystalline silica exposure is a serious workplace hazard that is involved in many jobs across the country, especially in construction work.

In order to understand and recognize this hazard, it’s important to know exactly what crystalline silica is and where it’s found. So, what is silica?

What Is Silica?

Silica is a chemical compound, silicon dioxide (SiO2), which comprises silicon and oxygen—the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust (source). In fact, silica is so abundant that it’s the main component in 95% of the earth’s rocks (source).

Where Is Silica Found?

Amorphous silica, like the common desiccant silica gel, is commonly used in food and household products. Crystalline silica is found in many construction materials like cement, brick, and stone. The most common form of crystalline silica is quartz.

Crystalline silica may become respirable particles when workers cut, drill, grind, or otherwise work with materials and objects that contain crystalline silica. Exposure to this created dust is a major workplace hazard that must be controlled carefully; it has been classified as a human lung carcinogen.

If you think about the fact that stone and rocks contain silica and the fact that cutting and drilling creates the dangerous respirable dust, that means a lot of jobs come across this hazard! It is estimated that around two million U.S. workers are exposed to silica on the job, which puts them at a high risk of silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease primarily. The most at-risk employees work in abrasive blasting, foundry work, stone cutting, rock drilling, quarry work, and tunneling.

What Can You Do About Silica?

With such a wide range of resources containing silica, this hazard is everywhere. Download this eBook and share it with your supervisors so they too can know the facts about silica. As an added bonus—if you are ready to take the next step toward safety—you will find silica training material inside this ebook. Don’t delay; download this ebook now.