Machines & equipment for sale

Why You Need the Right Dust Extractors for Silica Dust

Silica dust is a natural substance that is a by-product of working with raw materials such as stone, sand and clay. Silica dust is the substance that causes silicosis, specifically caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

A risk and occurrence are still relevant to the quarry and construction industries today, extraction systems are a priority for companies who handle these materials for the safety of their workers in the future.

What Effect Can Silica Dust Have on Your Health?

RCS is a fine dust that can deteriorate a person’s lungs over time. Breathing the dust in can result in the hardening & scarring of the lung tissue, weakening the lungs to be vulnerable to ongoing breathing issues.

Like with pneumoconiosis diseases these health deteriorations are not apparent initially, taking at least 10 years to develop; many will not realise the development before it’s too late. The symptoms typically show themselves 10+ years after the exposure, but any lung damage before that stage can still be seen on an x-ray.

Exposure to silica dust can result in the following:

Frequent chest infections,
Severe breathlessness,
Ongoing coughing,
Chronic disability,
Increase risk of lung cancer.

Which Industries Generate Silica Dusts?

For any industry that handles stone, sand and clay, there is an exposure risk to silica. This silica can be found in the following industries:

Construction & Demolition,
Quarrying,
Slate Mining,
Pottery & ceramics,
Foundries,
Concrete manufacturing,
Masonry architecture,
Abrasive blasting.

Any grinding, cutting, sanding, blasting, polishing and fettling these natural materials risks exposure to the workers.

Which Materials Generate Silica Dusts?

Considering the variety of stone and clay used across industries, it is always worth being aware of which materials produce the most concentrated volumes of silica dust compared to those on the lower end of the scale.

Types of Stone	Percentage of Silica
Sandstone, Gritstone, Quartzite	Above 70%
Concrete & Mortar	25% - 70%
Shale	40% - 60%
China Stone	Up to 50%
Slate	20% - 40%
Brick	Up to 30%
Granite	20% - 45% (typically 30%)
Ironstone	Up to 15%
Basalt & Dolerite	Up to 5%
Limestone & Chalk	Up to 5% (typically 2%)
Marble	Up to 5% (but does contain high concentration layers of crystalline silica)

This highlights the importance of extraction systems in industries that handle substances like sandstone and concrete, but it is still crucial for materials with low levels of silica.

Don’t Forget: Although some dusts from these raw materials would be a lower risk for silicosis, any dust is a potential health and safety risk. Dust can affect the health of individuals in different ways, plus the potential risk of being combustible.

Having a capable dust extraction that removes all these risks should be your goal.

What Level of Dust Extraction Is Required?

When applying the protective measures needed to ensure minimal risk to your workers, the factors to consider when purchasing your extraction unit/system are:

Dust Source - Does the process that produces dust occur in an enclosed or open area?
Capacity - Does the extractor have a large enough filter area required to handle the volume of dust?
Type of Dust – Do you need an extractor capable of handling dust at risk of self-igniting?
Maintenance – Would a self-cleaning extractor with an automatic shaker cycle be more suitable for you?

As a continuation of looking into HSE’s work-related lung disease awareness campaign to highlight the importance of dust extraction systems, silica dust is still relevant in the industry. Unlike other pneumoconiosis diseases where the inhaled substance of cause is no longer used (like asbestos), silica dust is still frequently produced, so still at risk of resulting in more cases of silicosis in the future.

With the proper awareness, the correct extraction systems can be installed, and we can supply them to you.

Our dust extraction range includes new & used dust extractors of various sizes and capacities; check out our full range today.

Process Manufacturing Fume Extraction System

This Process Manufacturing Fume Control System is a complete industrial extraction and fume abatement package designed for plating and surface treatment lines. Comprising of a horizontal fume scrubber & extraction fan, the system provides efficient removal and treatment of process fumes before safe atmospheric discharge.

Stock No: BIO500
Category: Fume Extraction Fans & Scrubbers
Model: Process Manufacturing
Year of Manufacture: 2000
Other Info: Capacity 9.23 m3/sec (19,557 cfm)
Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Direct Site Clearance Price [?]: £ Login or Register for price.
Part of a Direct Site Clearance: Fume Extraction System – Available Immediately Direct From Site

Why You Need the Right Dust Extractors for Silica Dust

What Effect Can Silica Dust Have on Your Health?

Which Industries Generate Silica Dusts?

Which Materials Generate Silica Dusts?

Types of Stone

Percentage of Silica

What Level of Dust Extraction Is Required?

Machines & equipment for sale

Machine Alert

machines for sale

top manufacturers

address