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Glossary Agate: Cryptocrystalline form of silica. Composed of extremely fine (submicroscopic) crystals of silica. Amorphous: Solid material that is composed of randomly orientated atoms, ions, or molecules that do not form defined patterns or lattice structures (non-crystalline). Chalcedony: Cryptocrystalline silica. Composed of extremely fine (submicroscopic) silica crystals. Citation: Under Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA is authorized to give citations to employees. Citations describe the item or items within the workplace that do not comply with OSHA regulations, date when the items must be corrected, and any associated fine or penalty. Employer and employee rights and responsibilities are also included in the citation. Chert: Cryptocrystalline silica. Composed of extremely fine (submicroscopic) silica crystals. Colloidal Silica: Extremely fine amorphous silica particles dispersed in water. Colloids do not settle out of suspension over time. Colloidal silica is used commercially as binders and stiffeners and as polishing agents. Cristobalite: The form of crystalline silica that is stable at the highest temperature. It occurs naturally in volcanic rock. Crystalline: Solid material composed of regularly repeating atoms, ions, or molecules that form defined patterns or lattice structures. Diatomaceous Earth: See Diatomite. Diatomite: A rock, high in amorphous silica content, formed from the structures of tiny fresh- and salt-water organisms called diatoms. Diatomite has several commercial uses. Fumed Silica: An amorphous form of silica formed by the combustion of silicom tetrachloride in hydrogen-oxygen furnaces. Fused Quartz: The material formed by the rapid melting of quartz crystals. A meteor strike or a lightning bolt striking sand can form fused quartz. The term quartz glass is often erroneously used to mean fused quartz, but quartz glass is a misnomer because quartz is crystalline and glass is noncrystalline. Fused Silica: The material formed by heating cristobalite to the melting point (1710° C) and cooling it rapidly. Jasper: Cryptocrystalline silica. Composed of extremely fine (submicroscopic) silica crystals. Label: 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Manufacturer's Responsibility) 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Employer's Responsibility) (I) Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced; Material Safety Data Sheet: 29 CFR 1910.1200 (I) The identity used on the label, and, except as provided for in paragraph (I) of this section on trade secrets: 1910.1200(g)(2)(I)(A) 2} The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be
health hazards, and which comprise less than 1% (0.1% for carcinogens) of the mixture, if
there is evidence that the ingredient(s) could be released from the mixture in
concentrations which would exceed an established OSHA permissible exposure limit or ACGIH
Threshold Limit Value, or could present a health risk to employees; and, (vi) The OSHA permissible exposure limit, ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, where available; (vii) Whether the hazardous chemical is listed in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens (latest edition) or has been found to be a potential carcinogen in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest editions), or by OSHA; (viii) Any generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, including appropriate hygienic practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures for clean-up of spills and leaks; (ix) Any generally applicable control measures which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices, or personal protective equipment; (x) Emergency and first aid procedures; (xi) The date of preparation of the material safety data sheet or the last change to it; and, (xii) The name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer or other responsible party preparing or distributing the material safety data sheet, who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary. Employer's Responsibility Opal: An amorphous form of silica. PPE: Personal protective equipment used to prevent worker exposure to silica. This includes respirators, hoods, gloves, goggles, etc. 29 CFR 1910.1200: Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Hazard Communications Standard. Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): This is the airborne concentration of silica above which employees can not be exposed. Precipitated Silica: Amorphous silica that is precipitated from either a vapor or solution. Quartz: The most common type of crystalline silica. Some publications will use quartz and crystalline silica interchangeably, but the term crystalline silica actually encompasses several forms: quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, and several rarer forms. Also the term sand is used interchangeably. Radiolarian Earth: Soil, high in amorphous silica content, composed predominantly from the remains of radiolaria. Radiolarian earth that has been consolidated (hardened) into rock is called radiolarite. Radiolarite: A rock, high in amorphous silica content, formed from the shells of tiny fresh- and salt-water organisms called radiolaria. Silica: The common name for silicon dioxide. A compound formed from silicon and oxygen. Silica is a polymorph, that is, it exists in more than one state. The states of silica are crystalline and noncrystalline (also called amorphous). Crystalline silica can take several forms: quartz (most common), cristobalite, tridymite, and four rare forms. Silica Brick: Brick composed of silica that is used as a lining in furnaces. Silica Gel: Amorphous silica, prepared in formation with water. Removal of the liquid creates xerogels and further treatment with alcohol creates aerogels. Silica gels are used as drying agents and to alter viscosity of liquids. Silica Flour: Finely ground quartz, typically 98% of the particles are below 55 microns in diameter. Silica Sand: A common term in industry. It generally is used to mean a sand that has a very high percentage of silica, usually in the form of quartz. Silica sand is used as a source of pure silicon and as a raw material for glass and other products. Also called quartz sand. Silicate: A common name for compounds that are composed of atoms of slicon, oxygen, one or more metals and possibly hydrogen. Many natural minerals are silicates. Tridymite: A form of crystalline silica. It is found in nature in volcanic rocks and stony meteorites. It is also found in fired silica bricks. Tripoli: (rottenstone) Soft decomposed rock that may contain crystalline (quartz) or amorphous forms of silica.
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