CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2022 · Vol. 2022, Issue 1

Effectiveness of controls for respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction: A literature review

Prisca Tente, Erastus Misheng’u Mwanaumo and Wellington D. Thwala

Keywords: Controls, construction, exposure, effectiveness, silica dust

Abstract

Silica dust is unavoidable hazard, which is produced from construction activities such as grinding, cutting concrete and other materials that contain silica. Respirable silica dust can lead to occupational diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disease, tuberculosis, lung cancer and silicosis. In construction, workers are exposed to levels of respirable silica dust that are beyond the Permissible Exposure Limit which makes them prone to deadly respirable diseases. This paper reviews the effectiveness of exposure controls that are used in construction to reduce exposure levels to permissible limits. Eight studies that measured the reduction of exposure levels of controls were reviewed. Other sources of information were reports, reviews of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The paper is only based on the review of literature and case studies in construction. Peer reviewed articles and other articles on respirable crystalline silica exposure controls in the construction industry were reviewed. Water control was found to be more effective compared to local exhaust ventilation and the use of a silica substitute materials. Nevertheless, the use of water alone could not reduce exposure levels below the permissible limits. The implications of the study clearly demonstrated that there is no one single control was able to reduce exposure levels to permissible levels. In one study the combination of two controls, water and local exhaust ventilation reduced exposure levels significantly below the permissible level. Reduction in exposure levels will help in safeguarding workers’ health for high productivity. The use of all the controls in combination is recommended for the effective reduction of silica dust exposure below the permissible levels.