Danger Dust

Consider the examples of siding contractors cutting cementitious cladding materials for 8 hours a day, five days a week. Or trades that work with tile or granite countertops, as well as those cutting clay roof tiles or concrete slabs.

All of them, and others in similar roles, are at risk, including others working nearby, as silica dust can remain airborne for hours, posing risks even after the immediate task is completed.

Moreover, the development of silicosis can take years, particularly with chronic silicosis, which typically arises after a decade or more of low-level silica exposure. Inhalation of these small crystalline particles can lead to multiple health conditions, including the incurable lung disease silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.