Engineering control technologies to reduce occupational silica exposures in masonry cutting and tuckpointing.
OBJECTIVE
A number of tasks in construction generate worker overexposures to respirable crystalline silica dust, which is a significant contributor to occupational mortality and morbidity. This study evaluated the performance of commercially available engineering controls used in dusty construction tasks commonly performed by bricklayers.


METHODS
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) controls for a portable abrasive cutter and for tuckpointing grinders were examined at a bricklayers' training center, as were two stationary wet saws. Personal breathing zone air samples were collected with and without the use of LEV or water suppression during simulated concrete block cutting, brick cutting, and tuckpointing.


RESULTS
Compared with the use of no exposure control during block and brick cutting, the portable LEV unit significantly reduced mean respirable quartz exposures by 96% for block cutting and 91% for brick cutting (p < 0.01). The use of stationary wet saws was also associated with 91% reductions in exposure (p < 0.01). For tuckpointing, the reductions in mean respirable quartz concentrations were between 91% and 93% with the LEV controls (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Reductions of up to 96% in mean respirable quartz concentration were observed between control and no-control scenarios. These reductions with commercially available off-the-shelf tools demonstrate the effectiveness of engineering control interventions to reduce crystalline silica exposures in construction. Strategies to further improve control performance and approaches for increasing control interventions in construction are needed.
Meeker
John D
JD
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 6635 SPH Tower, 109 S. Observatory St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. meekerj@umich.edu
Cooper
Michael R
MR
Lefkowitz
Daniel
D
Susi
Pam
P
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000506:poisoning*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000506:poisoning*; D004391:Dust / Q000517:prevention & control; D004738:Engineering / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011482:Protective Devices; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000506:poisoning*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D012822:Silicon Dioxide