• All machines at this project are equipped with a dust extractor and/or a water inlet that helps prevent (quartz) dust spreading.
• I think dust extraction on outdoor machinery is over-the-top.

Quartz can be found in sand and natural rocks, thus in many building materials. If more than 1.5% of a material is made up of quartz, it is called quartzite material.

Examples of materials with a high level of quartz are:

• Sandstone (50-90%);
• Sand-lime stone (30-83%);
• Aerated concrete (12-44%) and
• Concrete stone (23-40%).

These materials are often used. In a solid form quartz is not dangerous.

Modifying everyday building materials that contain quartz results in dust. For instance, when:

• drilling holes in order to place window frames and profiles for isolation, pipes etc.
• milling of pipeline trenches with the wall milling machine
• grinding out seams
• cutting of kerb stones and roof tiles
• drilling and cutting concrete
• sanding floors
• demolishing buildings
• making mortar, mixing and pouring
• cleaning: wiping, brushing, blowing with compressed air

• Pulmonary fibrosis (black lung disease)
• Pneumonia
• Lung cancer

For our building site employees

• Only use (hand) tools with a dust extractor and/or a water inlet which helps prevent (quartz) dust spreading
• If accessories are missing, report this to the site manager and discuss how and when the work can be carried out without endangering anyone’s health
• Do not remove the dust control accessories from your tools, even it they make it more difficult to work with the tools
• If you are using a water inlet to limit dust, respiratory protection with a P3-filter is mandatory (dust particles in water spray)
• Ensure there is sufficient ventilation and a clean work floor
• Work as much as possible above the wind
• Keep your work place clean by vacuuming (do not sweep)
• Wash your hands before you eat
• Shower after completing activities
• Ensure there is sufficient drinking water on site

  For our work planner/procurement and site manager

• Opt for material without quartz as much as possible
• Opt for tailormade materials as much as possible
• Opt for less damaging working methods
• Fit hand tools with accessories

Rotate employees to keep exposure to a minimum