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Technical Support / Best Practices
Working Safely with James Hardie® Products
Managing the Silica Hazard
Important Note: Prior to using any James Hardie® products, all users must read all applicable warnings (including MSDS) and comply with all installation instructions. Failure to do so may result in serious personal injury or death.
Silica — What is it?
Crystalline Silica (SiO ) is the second most common mineral in the earth's crust (also known as silica sand or quartz). It is a commonly used ingredient in many construction products, including concrete, tile, grout, mortar, brick, cement tile underlayments, some drywall compounds, and fiber cement siding. All silica-containing products can produce small, respirable size particles when cut, drilled, ground, sanded, or otherwise abraded.
Managing Silica is Important to Your Health
In their intact state, silica-containing products pose minimal health risks. However, inhaling excessive quantities of respirable silca dust can cause silicosis (lung scarring) and other serious lung-related diseases, potentially being fatal in severe cases. Several governmental agencies have identified respirable silica to be cancer causing.
During inhalation, respirable silica enters the lungs and can cause the formation of scar tissue which may reduce the lung's ability to take in oxygen. Key risk factors include the amount of silica in the air, exposure frequency and duration, and the overall health of the worker. In addition, some studies have suggested that smoking may increase the risk for silica-related diseases.
Overexposures to respirable silica can occur when cutting any silica-containing building product.
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