Concrete Grinders
Concrete grinders are tools used to remove paint, glue or other surface coatings. These grinders come in both hand-held models and floor models, and most are gas or propane powered, negating the need of a wall outlet. While the concrete grinder is a tool that is much needed and used quite often, using one can cause a potential danger. The grinding and cleaning of concrete causes dust to be dispersed into the air. When the dust is breathed into the lungs, it can pose a serious danger to the human body.
Dust created from using a concrete grinder can be a serious health hazard. Many contractors who must use these tools or who must be involved in concrete saw cutting methods, face developing the disease called silicosis. This is a disease of the lungs caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust. Contractors and construction workers may be subjected to this type of dust in many different situations. Sever exposure to crystalline silica dust can happen during abrasive sand blasting procedures to remove rust and paint from buildings and bridges. Exposure can also happen while boring through rock to drill a well or using power saws and grinders to cut through concrete.
Silicosis is also known as grinder’s disease. This is because a large number of people who contract this disease have done so by operating machinery such as concrete polishers and concrete grinders. There are over two million U.S. employees who are under the potential threat of silica exposure. At this time, there is no cure for this disease, which can be fatal. There are however, precautions that can be taken in order to protect individuals using tools such as concrete tile saws, grinders or the concrete cut off saw. Precautions vary from using face masks to dust extractors that will pull the dust away from the operator.
Without concrete grinders and other concrete cutting construction tools, many much needed applications could not be done. These tools are essential to smoothing, leveling and cleaning concrete, granite and marble. However, the use of such tools can cause potential dangers to the human body because of the dust that is produced. This dust is responsible for the disease silicosis, which affects the lungs and can be fatal.
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