We don’t have to be hard rock miners to encounter dangerous silica exposures. In most cities around the world, workers, on building sites, can be exposed to hazardous crystalline silica when cutting concrete, stone or brick containing silica. Silica is a very common substance found in sand, rock, and building materials such as concrete and brick. Cutting, grinding, or drilling these materials will release hazardous crystalline silica dust into the air.The following link will take you to a video produced by Worksafe BC, in British Columbia, Canada.
This video shows how breathing air, containing silica dust, can cause permanent damage to the lungs. (2 min 01s).