Jobsite Safety & Health
RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA
Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth's crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain crystalline silica. Silica dust can become airborne through various activities.
Not all silica is breathable and becomes a health hazard. Only very small silica particles - at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand - can be introduced into our respiratory system inhalation when they are airborne. Construction tasks such as hand cutting, sawing, grinding, and polishing concrete, brick, block, and mortar can create respirable crystalline silica dust. Inhalation of respirable silica increases risk of serious silica-related diseases including silicosis, lung cancer, and kidney failure.
Some of our products contain sand and other earth minerals that may result in respirable silica; the silica content of each product can be found in their corresponding Safety Data Sheet (SDS). However, the exposure level of respirable silica dust is determined by various materials in use, work practice, equipment, and other safety measures at each job site. It is essential to understand the respirable silica level specific to your project and reduce the silica exposure through source reduction, engineering and administrative controls, and PPE appropriate for each job site's work condition.
Please visit the OSHA Silica Standard for Construction website for more information about Silica Safety.
Click on the link below to read more about Uzin Utz North America's response to the OSHA Silica Standard.
UUNA Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for the Construction Customer 2018
MATERIAL HEALTH INFORMATION
At Uzin Utz North America, we strive to provide our stakeholders with information related to health and safety to assist their decision in improving workers’ health and safety and environmental quality.
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly MSDS, is designed to provide users with the proper procedures for handling or working with the material. The information in an SDS helps the job site management to establish the appropriate control measures and prevent and mitigate the damage to human health and the environment. Our SDS are available online, or you can send a request to sustainability.us@uzin-utz.comto receive a specific SDS.
Many of our products contain zero or very low volatile organic compounds (VOC) and contribute to better indoor air quality. Some of our products meet the LBC’s Red List Free requirements.
For more details on the Red List, please visit the International Living Future Institute's (ILFI) website.
