Workers may be exposed to hazardous dust containing crystalline silica when using drilling systems for site preparation. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) determined that dust from drilling can be reduced by using wet or dry engineering controls to reduce dust, enclosed cabs and implementing a program for controlling dust .
Inhalation of crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, a deadly lung disease. No effective treatment exists for silicosis, however, can be prevented by controlling the exposure of workers to dust containing crystalline silica.
