From the
Now Available: Silica Guidance Documents
The Natural Stone Institute (NSI) and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) are proud to introduce two guidance documents for workplace silica exposure assessment assembled by the Yale School of Medicine. These documents are available in both English and Spanish and can be found on the NSI silica page.
Fabricator Guidance The Fabricator Guidance Document provides resources for sourcing workplace air monitoring for respirable dust and crystalline silica. It also includes advice on when sampling should be scheduled, and how long reports should be retained. The one-page document also includes what information should be shared with the consultant on the day(s) sampling is performed, including job titles/descriptions for employees sampled, specific activities performed, stone products processed, dust-control measures used (such as local exhaust ventilation or water), personal protective equipment worn, and a written respiratory protection program, if one exists. English: https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/default/assets/file/silica/2024-yale-guidance-nsi-isfa-members-english.pdf Spanish: https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/default/assets/file/silica/2024-yale-guidance-nsi-isfa-members-spanish.pdf Sampling Firm/Consultant Guidance The Sampling Firm/Consultant Guidance Document shares general requirements, sample strategies, minimum documentation, and laboratory results. The three-page document also details what should be included in a final consultant report, including both regulatory and best practice-based recommendations for the client. In addition to these regulatory and best practice-based recommendations, the final consultant’s report should provide the following:
- Details on the facility, material being worked, employee work activities, controls, and sampling method.
- Summary table showing results, with airborne concentrations for respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica reported for both the duration of the sampling period and computed for an 8-hour time weighted average (if significantly different than 480 minutes).
- Silica results vs. the Threshold Limit Values for RCS published by ACGIH—for information purposes only.
- Interpretation of findings. In addition to these regulatory and best practice-based recommendations, the final consultant’s report should provide the following:
English: https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/default/assets/file/silica/2024-yale-guidance-for-sampling-firm-english.pdf Spanish: https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/default/assets/file/silica/2024-yale-guidance-for-sampling-firm-spanish.pdf
Where to get silica sampling was a regular question fielded by the NSI technical department. “These documents should help our members and the industry at large better understand the process of air monitoring for respirable crystalline silica (RCS)," said Mark Meriaux, NSI accreditations & technical manager. "A recent survey and data collection project with Yale researchers revealed that there is little consistency of information gathered in professional sampling reports. "These two new documents should help define best practices in air monitoring for RCS and also give a better understanding of expectations to those companies who haven’t started air monitoring.” These new resources are a valuable addition to NSI’s comprehensive Silica & Slab Safety Certificate program, made possible by the Natural Stone Foundation. All industry members are encouraged to download these documents online at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/silica.
The information herein is provided by the Natural Stone Institute as a general summary and is provided to augment and not substitute for or replace required training under any applicable local, state or federal workplace statute, law or regulation. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure this content is consistent with jobsite requirements and applicable statutes, laws or regulations prior to use and make any required additions or changes.