About this session
Silica is found in many common materials, including stone, concrete, brick, mortar, tile and other mineral products. When these materials are cut, drilled, ground, crushed, sanded or otherwise disturbed, very fine particles can become airborne.
Respirable crystalline silica is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and repeated occupational exposure can cause serious, irreversible disease.
Participants learn to think beyond the visible dust cloud. Exposure depends on the material, process, dust-generation rate, particle size, duration, proximity, airflow and the controls in use.
Dust can also be redistributed during cleanup, filter changes, waste handling, maintenance and vehicle or pedestrian movement through contaminated areas.
The session prioritizes control at source. Participants compare elimination, substitution, prefabrication, isolation, enclosure, wet suppression and local extraction before considering work-practice controls or respiratory protection.
They also learn why a control must be matched to the actual tool, process, material and production rate and why a system that is present but poorly maintained may provide far less protection than expected.
Longer programs develop a complete silica- and dust-control approach covering exposure mapping, equipment selection, maintenance, housekeeping, respiratory protection, occupational-hygiene assessment, worker reporting, health surveillance and management review.
What your people take away
- Recognize materials and processes that can generate respirable silica and other hazardous dust
- Understand why visible dust alone cannot determine the level of respiratory exposure
- Apply elimination, substitution, wet methods, extraction and isolation before relying on respiratory protection
- Verify that dust-control equipment is present, suitable and functioning during real work
- Prevent cleanup, maintenance and secondary contamination from recreating airborne exposure
- Know when exposure monitoring, occupational-health surveillance or specialist occupational-hygiene assessment is required
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes FromA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From: know which materials can contain silica, focus on the process that makes the dust airborne and understand why respirable dust may be hard to see.
- Know which materials can contain silica
- Focus on the process that makes the dust airborne
- Understand why respirable dust may be hard to see
Covers 3 of 4 points in Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From.
60 minutes
60 Minutes — Silica and Dust Exposure EssentialsA focused introduction to silica-containing materials, respirable dust, high-dust processes and the controls that stop contamination at source. Participants work through a cutting or grinding scenario and learn why wet methods, extraction and appropriate housekeeping come before relying on a respirator alone.
- Silica-containing materials
- Respirable versus visible dust
- Cutting, drilling, grinding and other dust-generating work
- Source → pathway → worker
- Wet methods
- On-tool and local extraction
- Housekeeping and secondary exposure
- Silica and Dust Control Decision Exercise
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From.
90 minutes
90 Minutes — Control Silica and Dust at SourceThe extended session develops source control, wet suppression, extraction, isolation, housekeeping, respiratory protection and control verification through realistic tool and process scenarios.
- Material and process identification
- Respirable exposure pathways
- Elimination and prefabrication
- Wet suppression
- Local and on-tool extraction
- Enclosure and isolation
- Control-performance checks
- Housekeeping
- Filter and waste handling
- Respiratory protection boundaries
- Dust Control Scenario Lab
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From and Control Dust Where It Is Generated.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From, Control Dust Where It Is Generated and Verify Controls and Prevent Secondary Exposure.
Full day
Full Day — Silica and Dust Exposure Control WorkshopAn applied workshop covering all four modules. Participants map dust-generating tasks, compare source-control methods, investigate failed wet and extraction systems, review housekeeping and respiratory-protection scenarios and build a practical silica- and dust-control improvement plan.
- Module 1 — Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From
- Module 2 — Control Dust Where It Is Generated
- Module 3 — Verify Controls and Prevent Secondary Exposure
- Module 4 — Build a Reliable Silica and Dust Control System
- Material and Dust-Generation Map
- Source–Pathway–Worker Exercise
- Wet Method Control Scenario
- On-Tool Extraction Review
- Dust Control Failure Investigation
- Housekeeping and Secondary Exposure Exercise
- RPE and Residual Exposure Scenario
- Exposure Assessment Decision Exercise
- 30-Day Silica and Dust Control Action Plan
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week or 8-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From
Every length- Know which materials can contain silicaConcrete, stone, brick, mortar, tile and many other mineral materials can contain crystalline silica.
- Focus on the process that makes the dust airborneCutting, drilling, grinding, chasing, crushing, sanding, demolition and other mechanical processes can create large amounts of fine dust.
- Understand why respirable dust may be hard to seeThe most visible particles are not necessarily the particles most relevant to deep-lung exposure.
- Include cleanup, maintenance and nearby workExposure can occur after the main cutting or grinding task has ended.
Control Dust Where It Is Generated
90 minutes and longer- Eliminate or change the dust-generating workThe strongest control may be avoiding the dusty process completely.
- Use wet methods to suppress dust at sourceWater can reduce airborne dust when it reaches the point where particles are being generated.
- Capture dust with local or on-tool extractionLocal exhaust and on-tool extraction can capture dust close to the point of generation before it spreads into the work area.
- Isolate the process and the peopleEnclosures, restricted areas, remote operation, physical separation and scheduling can reduce the number of people exposed when dusty work cannot be eliminated completely.
Verify Controls and Prevent Secondary Exposure
3 hours and longer- Check that the control is actually workingA control should not be credited simply because the equipment is present.
- Keep housekeeping from recreating the dust cloudSettled dust is still part of the exposure-control problem.
- Control filter, waste and maintenance tasksDust collectors, bags, filters, hoses and contaminated equipment may release concentrated dust during servicing or disposal.
- Use respiratory protection for the remaining exposureRespiratory protective equipment may be necessary where other controls cannot adequately reduce exposure or while stronger controls are being implemented.
Build a Reliable Silica and Dust Control System
Full day only- Use exposure assessment when the answer is uncertainParticipants learn when material information, process knowledge and existing exposure data may be enough for routine decisions and when competent occupational-hygiene assessment or exposure monitoring is needed.
- Connect procurement and maintenance with exposure controlDust exposure can be influenced long before work starts.
- Report symptoms and use health surveillance appropriatelyPersistent cough, breathlessness or other respiratory changes should be reported through the appropriate workplace and healthcare pathway without employees attempting to diagnose silicosis or another occupational disease themselves.
- Review the system when work changes or controls failA new material, faster production rate, different tool, new contractor, worn extraction system or changed work area can alter exposure.
Tools and materials
- Silica and Dust Exposure Map
- Material–Process–Exposure Review
- Dust Control Hierarchy Map
- Wet Method Control Planner
- On-Tool Extraction Review
- Dust Control Verification Check
- Housekeeping and Secondary Exposure Map
- RPE and Residual Exposure Review
- Exposure Assessment Decision Guide
- Silica and Dust Exposure Control Playbook
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Silica and Dust Exposure Controls
How long is Silica and Dust Exposure Controls?
Silica and Dust Exposure Controls runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From: know which materials can contain silica, focus on the process that makes the dust airborne and understand why respirable dust may be hard to see. A 60-minute session covers Understand Where Silica and Dust Exposure Comes From in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Control Dust Where It Is Generated. A 3-hour session adds Verify Controls and Prevent Secondary Exposure. A full-day session adds Build a Reliable Silica and Dust Control System. It is also available as a 4-week or 8-week program.
Can Silica and Dust Exposure Controls be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Silica and Dust Exposure Controls?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Silica and Dust Exposure Controls to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.