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NIOSH Publication No. 2008-127:Water Spray Control of Hazardous Dust When Breaking Concrete with a Jackhammer |
May 2008 |
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SummaryConstruction workers are exposed to hazardous dust when using jackhammers to break concrete pavement. NIOSH found that exposures could be reduced by using a water-spray attachment. Description of ExposureBreathing dust that contains crystalline silica can lead to silicosis, a deadly lung disease. Exposure to crystalline silica has also been linked to lung cancer, kidney disease, reduced lung function, and other disorders [NIOSH 2002]. No effective treatment exists for silicosis, but it can be prevented by controlling worker exposure to dust containing crystalline silica. Workers in the construction industry may breathe dust that contains crystalline silica during many tasks including grinding concrete, cutting brick and block, tuckpointing masonry, or using a jackhammer to break concrete. A study to measure exposures found that jackhammer operators who break concrete were exposed to about 6 times the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) [Valiante et al. 2004]. NIOSH evaluated the use of jackhammers for breaking concrete pavement and examined engineering controls to see whether they reduce worker exposures to dust [Echt et al. 2003]. NIOSH StudyNIOSH studied a water-spray attachment (Figure 1) to suppress dust created during concrete pavement breaking with jackhammers [Echt et al. 2003]. This low-flow, water-spray control reduced dust exposures by 70%–90%.
Water-Spray ControlsThe water-spray attachment was made by a contractor who participated in the NIOSH study (Mt. Hope Rock Products, Inc., Wharton, NJ, a division of Tilcon New York, Inc., West Nyack, NY). There is continuing development of water-spray controls similar to the one used in the NIOSH study. For example, The New Jersey Laborers Health and Safety Fund (NJLHSF) has also developed a simple durable, low-cost water-spray attachment for use on a jackhammer (www.njlaborers.org/index.php3). The NJLHSF version of a water-spray attachment used the control described in this document as a starting point. A detailed description of the NJLHSF water-spray attachment and estimated cost can be found at their Web site (www.njlaborers.com/health/jackhammer.php3). NIOSH is not aware at this time of off-the-shelf, commercially available retrofit kits or jackhammers that come with built-in water spray units. However, it is relatively simple to build a water spray control for a jackhammer using the diagram in Figure 2 and the parts and instructions below:
Controlling Dust ExposuresThe results of the NIOSH study showed that the control devices may reduce exposure to dust for jackhammer operators and other workers near the work area. Employers and jackhammer operators should take the following steps to reduce worker exposure to hazardous dust: Site Set-Up
Engineering Controls
Personal Hygiene and Protective Clothing
Protective Equipment
AcknowledgmentsThe principal contributor to this publication was Alan Echt of the Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. John J. Whalen, under a NIOSH contract, served as lead writer/editor. This research was conducted in cooperation with the New Jersey Silica Partnership. ReferencesEcht A, Seiber K, Jones E, Schill D, Lefkowitz, Sugar J, Hoffner K [2003]. Control of respirable dust and crystalline silica from breaking concrete with a jackhammer. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 18:491–495. NIOSH [2002]. NIOSH hazard review: health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002–129. Valiante DJ, Schill DP, Rosenman KD, Socie E [2004]. Highway repair: a new silicosis threat. Am J Public Health 94(5):876–880.For More InformationThe information in this document is based on NIOSH field studies. More information about silica hazards and controls is available on the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/silica/default.html. To receive copies of the NIOSH field study reports that formed the basis of this document or to obtain information about other occupational safety and health topics, contact NIOSH at Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636) or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews. Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH. In addition, citations to Web sites external to NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of these Web sites. This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers of the Workplace Solutions to make them available to all interested employers and workers. As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries. All Workplace Solutions are based on research studies that show how worker exposures to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced. Water Spray Control of Hazardous Dust When Breaking Concrete with a JackhammerDHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008–127May 2008Safer • Healthier • PeopleTM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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