Alliance Eyes Silica Hazard

Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association, St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have formed an alliance to focus

Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association, St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have formed an alliance to focus on highway work zone hazards, motor vehicle safety and respiratory protection for hazards associated with silica. The agency and CSDA will seek to increase recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and develop ways of communicating that information throughout the industry, including use of electronic assistance tools and the Web sites of both organizations. OSHA and CSDA will share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding CSDA’s best practices and help publicize that information.

CSDA had already developed an array of safety and training materials for sawing and drilling operators. Over 1,300 students have graduated from CSDA’s Sawing & Drilling 101, Cutting Edge, Operator Certification, OSHA Construction Safety and Estimating courses. A 57-page Safety Handbook and a 200-page Safety Manual have also been developed to assist sawing and drilling cutting contractors in establishing safety and health programs. Û www.osha.gov or www.csda.org