TESTING & CONSULTING SERVICES
SILICA & OTHER PARTICULATES TESTING & MONITORING
Silica, often referred to as Quartz, is a very common mineral. It is found in many materials common on construction and oil & gas sites, including soil, sand, concrete, masonry, rock, granite, and landscaping materials. The dust created by cutting, grinding, drilling or otherwise disturbing these materials can contain Crystalline silica particles. This respirable silica dust can cause lung disease (Silicosis) and lung cancer.
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Creating Safe & Healthy Working Spaces Through Testing & Monitoring
Experience & Expertise
Count on SR Quality Monitoring to provide you with timely, professional expertise in all our occupational and industrial hygiene testing services. We’re Here to help.
Concrete Dust
Let us help you test existing particulate levels, monitor dust levels, and provide options for particulate reduction and mitigation. Safe spaces are safer places for employees & stakeholders.
Abrasives Dust
Let us help you test existing particulate levels, monitor dust levels, and provide options for particulate reduction and mitigation. Safe spaces are safer places for employees & stakeholders.
Granite & Sand
Let us help you test existing particulate levels, monitor dust levels, and provide options for particulate reduction and mitigation. Safe spaces are safer places for employees & stakeholders.
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Frequently asked questions about silica and other particulates testing & monitoring:
Exposure to silica dust can lead to the development of lung cancer, silicosis (an irreversible scarring and stiffening of the lungs), kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Not all exposed workers will develop cancer; cancer risk increases with long-term or repeated high-level exposure.
Silica is the basic component of sand and rock. It’s in construction materials such as:
- Concrete, concrete block, cement, and mortar
- Masonry, tiles, brick, and refractory brick
- Granite, sand, fill dirt, and topsoil
- Asphalt-containing rock or stone
- Abrasive used for blasting
Silica is one of the most common hazards on a work site. Any activity with a material containing silica that creates dust can expose workers to airborne silica. The most common activities to create silica dust are the following:
- Chipping, sawing, grinding, sanding, hammering, or drilling
- Crushing, loading, hauling, or dumping
- Building demolition
- Power cutting or dressing stone
- Abrasive blasting
- Dry sweeping or pressurized air blowing
- Tunneling, excavating, or earth moving
