Stonemasons can suffer ill health and disease caused by the stone dust that they breathe in.

If stonemasons get lung diseases and damage from inhaling too much stone dust, and they do, then the solution is to reduce the amount of dust they inhale. But this simple common sense statement begs a number of questions:

  • Is the type of dust important?
  • How much dust is too much dust?
  • What controls will reduce the stonemason’s exposure enough?
  • How do I know whether the controls are working?
  • How do I keep the controls working?

The following questions and subsequent answers provide information guidance to help employers manage the risk to employees.

YES NO
1

Do you know what the health risks from stone dust are?
2

Can you list them?
3

What causes the risks?

THE LAW, EXPOSURE, LIMITS & CONTROL
4

Can you describe the fundamental properties of fine stone dust?
5

Do you know which laws cover the control of stonemasonry dust?
6

Do you know what the exposure limits relevant to stone dust exposure are?
7

Do you know how to define ‘overexposure’ to stone dust?

DUST EXPOSURE FROM STONEMASONRY PROCESSES
8

Can you list the four steps to successful stone dust control?
9

Do you know which stonemasonry processes generate the highest dust exposures?
10

Do you know what effect the crystalline silica content of stone has on stone dust overexposure?
11

Do you know the crystalline silica content of the stone you or your stonemasons work with?
12

Do you know how to calculate daily stone dust exposure?

STONE & DUST CONTROL
13

Do you know what the ‘golden rule’ of control is?
14

Do you know what the ‘control hierarchy’ is and means?
15

Do you know what the four classes of control option are?
16

Can you describe the essential features of a well-designed exhaust ventilation booth?
17

Can you describe the strengths and limitations of exhaust ventilation ‘captor’ hoods?
18

Do you know how to select and fit respirators?
19

Do you know how to select the appropriate blend of dust controls?
20

Do you know how stonemasons should best use the dust controls?
21

Have you written down a description of the most effective dust control work methods?

MAINTENANCE OF DUST CONTROLS
22

Do you know what monitoring and checking of control ‘hardware’ is needed to maintain the effectiveness of dust control measures?
23

Do you know what monitoring and checking of control ‘software’ is needed to maintain the effectiveness of dust control measures?
24

Do you know what airborne dust monitoring can be used for and when it is needed?

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
25

Do you know when medical surveillance is needed?
26

Do you know what medical surveillance is needed and how often?

This complete page, with the answers is available to view and download here.