Arbeidstilsynet (The Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority) will increase their inspection of construction works which exposes their workers to cancer-causing quartz dust.

Arbeidstilsynet media release is as follows, translated from Norwegian.

Arbeidstilsynet shall control work with hazardous stone dust

On a daily basis, thousands of workers are exposed to quartz dust, which can cause lung cancer, allergies and COPD. This summer, the Labor Inspectorate will be supervised in vulnerable industries, mainly in construction, to check if they prevent employees from being exposed to quartz.

Exposure to quartz occurs mainly by inhalation of stone dust when handling quartz -containing rock and sand, for example in connection with mining, mountain drilling and by crushing stone. The most exposed industries to quartz are tunnel, construction and mining.

"Since quartz is found in a number of industries that employ many, we assume that thousands of workers are exposed daily to quartz," says Department Director Rosmari Johnsen of the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority.

Arbeidstilsynet will follow up vulnerable industries with more supervision in the future. Supervision will be conducted throughout the country this spring and summer, mainly in the construction industry.

- We will, among other things, check whether the companies have mapped and risk -assessed the incidence of quartz, and whether adequate risk -reducing measures have been implemented, says Johnsen.

How to avoid exposure?

Exposure to dust containing quartz can be significantly reduced with targeted measures.

- In order to reduce exposure to quartz, it is important that collective measures that protect all employees are prioritized first, says Rosmari Johnsen.

Collective measures can be technical measures or organizational measures.

Technical measures to reduce dust exposure:

• The work equipment is in accordance with the regulations and equipped with the collection system
• Closed cab with HEPA filter and overpressure
• Watering to mute the dust

Organizational measures are about good planning, organization and facilitation of the work:

• Concomitant work and stay in contaminated zones must be limited
• Good routines for operation, maintenance and cleaning are important.
• Employees must be trained in good working habits, such as not going with dust into a cab or on the dining room/construction barracks, and to close a driver's cabin window.

If the quarter exposure is still too high after the introduction of technical and organizational measures, employees must use personal protective equipment in the form of respiratory protection with P3 filters. Respiratory protection will often be necessary for blasting, drilling and crushing in construction work.

Facts about quartz:

• Crystalline silica, also called quartz, is one of the most common minerals in the crust, and is found in varying amounts in most rocks, sand and clay.
• Exposure to quartz occurs mainly by inhalation of dust when handling quartz-containing rocks and sand, such as mining, by mountain drilling, by crushing, cutting and demolition of stone and concrete and in tunnel, construction and building operations. In 2021,
• Norway set a new limit value for respirably crystalline silica of 0.05 mg/m3.
• The green shift leads to a greater focus on the buildings being rehabilitated instead of being demolished and building new. This leads to more interior demolition and processing of existing building stock, which often consists of concrete and brick. Building material such as bricks and concrete can contain up to 30% of the mineral quartz.

Facts about health risk associated with quartz

• The health risk of quartz is primarily related to the inhalation of dust formed when materials are processed so that small particles are released.
• It is the smallest stone dust particles that need at the bottom of the lungs that are most dangerous. The smallest particles are called respirable, and are so small that they can often not be seen with the naked eye.
• Quarter dust is known to cause silicosis, fall in lung function, asthma, allergies and COPD.
• Respirably quarter dust is also carcinogenic and can lead to lung cancer. In addition, quarter dust can cause acute health problems such as coughing, mucus and soreness in the air roads.