Silica Dust Toolbox Talk Template

Silica, formally named silicon dioxide, is typically a safe and non-toxic substance that makes up a large part of the earth’s crust. It is found in various materials and substances, like rocks, sand, and quartz, and is used in a wide range of applications such as construction materials, cosmetics. It is also a naturally occurring substance in many every-day food items, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Skin contact and ingestion of silica has been found to be non-harmful to humans.

However, when silica is inhaled in the form of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), it poses significant health risks to humans. RCS refers to silica in the form of fine microdust, that is formed when materials like stone or concrete is cut, drilled, or fractured. It is most commonly encountered in workplaces such as construction sites, stone quarries, or manufacturing lines.

The human body cannot naturally process or filter silica in its microdust form, and has no natural way of getting rid of the substance when inhaled. A build-up of silica dust in the lungs can lead to scarring of the lung tissue, also known as fibrosis, and can lead to severe diseases like silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Studies have shown that this scarring of the lung tissue can even continue and worsen even after you are no longer exposed to silica dust, and cannot be easily treated and cured.