How can silica dust be controlled?
Water spraying, vacuuming or other ventilation, or isolation can reduce the dust getting into the air. Respirators can protect the worker from breathing airborne dust. Water is often the best option for dust control. It works best when a water spray is directed right at the point of cutting or grinding. A fine mist is generally more effective than a water stream. Wetting or dampening the surface alone before starting is usually not very effective because almost immediately cutting or grinding will get below the wet surface, generating dust. Generally speaking, the more water used, the better airborne dust control. Table saws usually use water for silica dust control. This explains why exposures for table saws are lower than many other tools. Maintenance of the saw’s water reservoir is very important for good water flow and control. We have done studies at the UW to test how well vacuums attached to tools control silica dust. For a tuck point grinder, surface grinder, and brick saw, dus
