Masonry Magazine August 2004 Page. 18
Personal SAFETY
It's not enough to pick and choose to protect some parts of the body, while leaving others uncovered and vulnerable.
Setting the Scene
FROM CUTTING TO LIFTING, the masonry industry offers several scenarios that really bring home the idea of needing to create a safe working environment.
Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind nowadays when you start talking about drilling, cutting or
GIBCO'S MRF
ADMIXTURES THAT ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF MASONRY MORTAR
REPLACES LIME
GREATER RESISTANCE TO FREEZE & THAW
LOWER BATCH COST
REDUCED SHRINKAGE
LESS STORAGE & HANDLING
AVOIDS WASTE LESS CALLS BACKS
NON-TOXIC
GIBCO INDUSTRIES. INC.
PO Box 880, LANGLEY, OK 74350-0880
1-800-822-0802
www.gibco-usa.com
CIRCLE 313 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Diamond Discs International
Super Size your Diamond Blade Segment!
Diamond Discs International, an international manufacturer of diamond cutting & drilling media, presents its king of the general purpose diamond blade jungle. The Lion series from Diamond Discs features DeBeres diamond, fast cutting with long life due to its super sized segments. The Lion Heavy duty has 12mm (7/16") high rim and the Lion Mega rim has an industry first 15 mm (5/8") laser welded high rim versus industry standard 7-8mm. Both blades will give you, the contractor, a fast cut with long life.
Lion gives you more & you pay less
12mm Seg (7/16")High
12"-$59.90 14"-$79.90
15mm Seg (5/8")High
14" only $99.90
1-888-582-3861
www.diamonddiscs.net
"Worldwide Quality Nationwide Service"
BEWARE OF CRYSTALLINE SILICA DUST
By Zane N. Frund, Ph.D.
Manager of Chemical Research and Analytical Services
MSA Company
Worker exposure to crystalline silica dust continues to be a health hazard associated with the construction industry. Understanding the importance of respiratory protection for masons is more readily apparent if you remember that damage from low exposures may not present itself for years, until it's too late.
Construction-related activities that may produce crystalline silica-containing dust include abrasive-blasting, tuckpointing, cutting of concrete or masonry products, demolition and repair of concrete or masonry structures, and dry sweeping or pressurized air blowing of concrete, rock or sand dust. To put things into perspective, the simple cutting of dry block or concrete can result in exposures approaching 10 times the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) established permissible exposure limit (PEL) for crystalline silica.
Several types of respirators provide varying levels of protection against silica dust. The choice of respirator depends on the level of exposure. All respirators, however, including disposable dust masks, must be approved by the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH).
As the atmospheric concentration of crystalline silica increases, the assigned protection factor (APF) - defined as the ratio of the concentration of the contaminant outside of the respirator to the concentration of the contaminant inside of the respirator - generally increases. When tested at the NIOSH-certification conditions, an N95 and N100 filter will remove at least 95% and 99.97%, respectively, of a solid particulate contaminant from an inspired air stream. Type H and P100 high efficiency filters will remove at least 99.97% of solid particulates and an oily mist aerosol from an inspired air stream.
Half-mask respirators equipped with particulate filters are suitable for use against all forms of respirable crystalline silica at concentrations of 0.5 mg/m3 or less. They are also suitable for use against amorphous silica dust at concentrations as great as 60 mg/m³.
29 CFR 1926.55 (Safety and Health Regulations for Construction: Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts and Mists) states that to achieve compliance with the established OSHA PELs, the employer must first implement engineering (e.g., dust suppression) or administrative controls (e.g.. job rotation) whenever feasible.
When such measures are not feasible or do not result in full compliance, protective equipment, including respiratory protection devices, must be used to keep employee exposure to air contaminants below the PEL. When respirators are used, employers are required to establish a comprehensive respiratory protection program as outlined in the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) or 29 CFR 1926.103 (which refers to 29 CFR 1910.134). The Respiratory Protection Standard provides clear guidance for establishing and implementing a respirator program.
Additional guidance can be found in the "American National Standard Practices for Respiratory Protection," ANSI Z88.2 (refer to latest edition).