BCCSA Silica Control Tool Gap Analysis

Inhalation of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) generated during construction activities such as cutting or grinding can cause lung cancer and the irreversible lung disease. Exposure to RCS is common on construction sites because silica is a naturally occurring mineral that is present in many construction materials. The Silica Control Tool is a risk assessment tool that was developed by the BC Construction Safety Alliance and the University of British Columbia to assist construction employers to create exposure control plans for managing the health risks of RCS on construction worksites. It uses an RCS exposure database to generate exposure estimates for construction activities both with and without exposure controls The Silica Control Tool was launched in 2017 and is freely available to all employers in British Columbia. It currently has over 2300 registered users. However, there remain gaps within the database which limit the applicability of the Tool. We aim to conduct on-site field measurements to determine the effect of these missing control methods to expand the applicability and effectiveness of the Silica Control Tool.

Faculty Supervisor:

Hugh Davies

Student:

Tristan Durrad

Partner:

Aura Health and Safety Corporation

Discipline:

Epidemiology / Public health and policy

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of British Columbia