The generation rate of respirable dust from cutting fiber cement siding using different tools

Details

• Personal Author:
  Echt, Alan S. ; Gressel, Michael G. ; Qi C
• Description:
  This article describes the evaluation of the generation rate of respirable dust (GAPS, defined as the mass of respirable dust generated per unit linear length cut) from cutting fiber cement siding using different tools in a laboratory testing system. We used an aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer (APS) to continuously monitor the real-time size distributions of the dust throughout cutting tests when using a variety of tools, and calculated the generation rate of respirable dust for each testing condition using the size distribution data. The test result verifies that power shears provided an almost dust-free operation with a GAPS of 0.006 g m-1 at the testing condition. For the same power saws, the cuts using saw blades with more teeth generated more respirable dusts. Using the same blade for all four miter saws tested in this study, a positive linear correlation was found between the saws' blade rotating speed and its dust generation rate. In addition, a circular saw running at the highest blade rotating speed of 9068 rpm generated the greatest amount of dust. All the miter saws generated less dust in the 'chopping mode' than in the 'chopping and sliding' mode. For the tested saws, GAPS consistently decreased with the increases of the saw cutting feed rate and the number of board in the stack. All the test results point out that fewer cutting interactions between the saw blade's teeth and the siding board for a unit linear length of cut tend to result in a lower generation rate of respirable dust. These results may help guide optimal operation in practice and future tool development aimed at minimizing dust generation while producing a satisfactory cut. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Laboratories Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Cements Crystalline Silica Cutting Tools Dust Exposure Dust Generation Dusts Fiber Cement Fibers Laboratory Testing Monitoring Systems Particle Size Power Tools Respirable Dust Respiration Respiratory System Disorders Tools

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• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  218-225
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049457
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2017 Mar; 61(2):218-225
• Contact Point Address:
  Chaolong Qi, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS: R5, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  hif1@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:31a72ec80c885aadfe536faca7ac0e921a0e740904a1cda5e043579e1312a5c170063ae8f04d8a15b83b056cbd578bd6c2fc27616af8f64413b2c7b66d53aafc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203901/cdc_203901_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 290.06 KB ]