With the new crystalline silica standard now in place, Ideal Contracting has established and implemented an exposure control plan to protect our team and our subcontractors. The plan identifies tasks that involve exposure as well as the methods necessary to limit your exposure to crystalline silica.
According to OSHA about two million construction workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in over 600,000 workplaces. Crystalline silica, an inorganic compound found in concrete, asphalt, aggregates, sand, soil, brick, drywall, and plenty more, can cause silicosis, lung cancer, other respiratory diseases, and kidney disease. Exposure to crystalline silica can occur during common construction tasks such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills, jackhammers and handheld powered chipping tools; operating vehicle-mounted drilling rigs; milling; operating crushing machines; and using heavy equipment for demolition or certain other tasks.
To date, our safety team has conducted over 1,000 man-hours of training for our employees and subcontractors. Our goal is to educate and protect not only our team, but also the subcontractors we work with to ensure their safety. In addition to training, Ideal has purchased twelve new Metabo HEPA Filter Vacuums that make for easy disposal, reducing the exposure to crystalline silica. Our priority is sending our employees home safe to their families every day, which means providing the knowledge to perform tasks safely.