Compliance and Safety for Silica

If you work in a profession that involves crushing asphalt, concrete or rocks (e.g. mining, milling or construction), you’re probably aware of OSHA’s tightening Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica (Table 1 of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.1153).

The new standard – 50 micrograms per cubic meter with an active level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter over an eight-hour workday – is five times lower than previous standards. This is due to the growing awareness of the health risks of silica dust. Prolonged exposure and inhalation can lead to:

  • Lung Disease and scarring
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Silicosis
  • Renal Disease
  • Autoimmune disorders (e.g. Lupus)

Proper Crusher Dust Control: What It Needs

Controlling and minimizing exposure to silica dust requires proper wet dust suppression for rock crushers. Because water has a relatively high surface tension (72 dynes per cm), it alone cannot penetrate crushed material that releases silica dust. Water’s hard surface causes its particles to bounce off dust particles instead of wet them; the dust therefore will not settle.

To overcome this condition, the water needs a surfactant, a highly concentrated wetting agent that reduces surface tension. Added to an existing washdown system (extra parts or equipment typically not required), the surfactant will enable the water to better saturate dust particles so they disperse and fall to the ground instead of rise and suffuse the air.

Benetech’s advanced wetting agents for crusher operation dust suppression cut water’s surface tension in half to 28–36 dynes per cm. This significantly increases water’s ability to wet dust particles, penetrate materials and decrease dust, including silica.

Because the agents are so efficient with saturation, you use less product to control crusher dust. You also set up less equipment at fewer applications for less cost, as well as manage less mess moisture and mess.

Proper Crusher Dust Control: How It Benefits Business and Health

Incorporating an effective crusher dust control system protects your personnel and keeps you current with OSHA regulations. For industries and activities that involve silica dust, OSHA offers two options for compliance:

  1. Exposure Assessment: Required, regularly scheduled onsite evaluations ensure silica dust exposure is below the regulatory PEL.
  2. Implementation of OSHA-Specified Controls: A business can opt out of exposure assessments and be exempt from other portions of the “silica dust rule” if specific controls are used as outlined in Table 1 of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.1153.

Crusher operation dust suppression with a crusher dust control system that applies Benetech wetting agents positions you to choose option 2. With our products, you better comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.1153 and can avert exposure assessments for certain activities.

Above all, you help reduce the hazards of silica dust among your employees by up to 100%.

Crusher Dust Control: Get Started Today

Worker safety and OSHA compliance are vital to your business. We provide your solution for both. To learn more about our wet dust suppression for rock crushers, contact us at (630) 844-1300 to speak with a Benetech specialist.

Posted in Dust Control