Silica dust is a naturally occurring mineral compound and is the second most common mineral in the earth's crust. It is found in a number of the most common building materials including:
- Concrete
- Sand
- Clay
- Bricks
- Stone
- Rock
The dust itself is created usually upon drilling, cutting or grinding the above materials. When disturbed crystalline silica can form tiny dust particles which can be breathed into the lungs. This is known as repairable crystalline silica (RCS) and is the most dangerous form of silica dust. In some cases RCS can be so small that it cannot be seen by the naked eye.
The nature of silica dust means that it presents risk to a number of occupation in a variety of industries, including:
- Quarrying
- Mining
- Construction
- Concrete manufacture
- Brick and tile manufacture