What is quartz dust?
Quartz occurs in numerous building materials such as brick, ceramics, composite stone, and concrete. When processing these materials, quartz is released in the form of fine dust particles. Inhaling it can lead to various health problems, the most well-known being miner's lung or silicosis. This incurable condition is accompanied by coughing and breathing problems during exertion. Even when exposure stops, the lungs can continue to deteriorate, for example, after changing jobs or reaching retirement age. Since symptoms only appear 10 or 30 years after exposure, the condition is difficult to trace.
Annual medical check
Employees who have been exposed to quartz dust must undergo an annual medical examination at the employer's expense. In addition to providing information, this also involves a symptom questionnaire, a clinical examination, and a lung function test. Since the symptoms of miner's lung can be delayed for a long time, we advise employees to have an X-ray of their lungs taken both upon hiring and every three years.
Prevention is priority
It goes without saying that you should avoid contact with quartz dust as much as possible. Preventive measures are essential, such as good source extraction or wet grinding techniques. Premed has compiled some concrete tips to limit harmful exposure in a brochure for employees and employers. You can consult the brochures here:
brochure 156 - Working with silica - information for the employee
brochure 157 - Working with silica - information for the employer
Working on a safe workplace?
Premed has all the knowledge in-house. Our experts offer various training courses on the mandatory training and awareness activities for employers and managers. Feel free to contact us via info@premed.be, we will handle your question with care.
