NIOSH have developed recommendations to help protect workers from exposure to crystalline silica dust during construction activities.
The following guidelines for controlling hazardous dust when used enclosed cabs for construction activities are based on the aforesaid recommendations.
Conditioning of the work site
- Develop a health and safety plan specific to the site. The plan must include commitments to recognize conditions that may generate silica dust and plan strategies for dust control or elimination. It should include engineering controls, personal protective equipment and work practices.
The construction workers operating enclosed cabs may be exposed to hazardous dust containing silica. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) determined that exposure of machine operators can be reduced through modernization of the air pressurization systems and filtering present in the booths, the use of compounds to sweep the floors and implement programs to control dust.
Conditioning of the work site:
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 .