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silica concentrations at or below this limit.( B) A worker grinds the interior edge of an artificial stone slab to shape a sink cutout using wet methods. Despite water suppression, silica-laden slurry has accumulated on the floor, dried dust is visible on the vertical surfaces of the wooden worktable, and the hose on the wall is coated with settled white silica dust, illustrating the limitations of wet methods in controlling airborne exposure during cutting, grinding, and polishing of artificial stone slabs that typically contain more than 90 % crystalline silica. A microwave directly behind the workstation suggests that workers may remove respirators to eat in the work area, compounding inhalational risk.( Figure 2 courtesy of Jenny Houlroyd)
Figure 3. Illustration of the manufacture of AS countertops from raw materials to home installation.
Figure 4. The Hierarchy of Controls is a framework promoted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health( NIOSH) to conceptualize and rank strategies for protecting workers from hazards.
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