Drilling Into What New OSHA Silica Rules Mean for Concrete Drillers

Unless you’ve been living under a concrete slab the past few months, you’ve likely heard about the new OSHA standards for crystalline silica dust.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, updated the 1971 standards last year. For concrete drilling and other construction industries, companies must be in compliance by September 2017.

But, what does compliance mean for concrete drillers, and how do we get there?

New Standards

Companies that employ people to use handheld concrete drills and dowel drilling rigs must implement control measures to limit respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged during an eight-hour shift.

How do you know when you hit the limit? As long as you follow OSHA’s Table 1 requirements, you shouldn’t have to measure, the guidance says.

For handheld concrete drills, that means using a shroud around the drill bit and a dust collection system. It must offer 99 percent or greater efficiency and a filter-cleaning mechanism.

For concrete dowel drilling rigs, add a commercial shroud or cowling with a dust collection system. Be sure to follow manufacturer recommendations on the drill, which also must have a filter with 99 percent or better efficiency, to ensure it stays within recommended levels.

Concrete drill rig users also will need respiratory protection with a minimum APF, or assigned protection factor, of 10. In short, wear a half-mask respirator or dust mask when using this equipment.

Experienced Solutions

At E-Z Drill, we want to make it easy for your company to meet these new standards. Our experience in engineering dust collection systems dates back nearly two decades, and we’re only getting better.

Earlier this year, we rolled out a new Dust Collection Cart that can be used with handheld tools. The system features a shroud that captures dust and minimizes operator exposure to within OSHA limits.

We also offer a Dust Collection System that can be used with our full line of slab-rider, on-grade and equipment-mounted concrete dowel drills.

Both systems fit on existing drill models, so there’s no need to purchase any other new equipment to meet OSHA Table 1 requirements for crystalline silica exposure.

Don’t get left in the dust. Contact your dealer today to get your E-Z Drill Dust Collection System.