Government, industrial, and commercial properties, such as military base complexes, manufacturing facilities, apartment buildings, and retail facilities, all must provide safe, dry, and clean environments, for working occupants, stored equipment, E-commerce goods and products, and utilities. Often, building and facility structures and finished materials, including for-purchase products, are made with Crystalline Silica, Amorphous Silica, and Quartz, and can create problematic particulate deposits when impacted, abraded, or otherwise produce fine dust. Silica Dust, created from Crystalline Silica, can be suspended in the air, accumulate on top of facility equipment and structures, accumulate on Fire Sprinkler Systems and Sprinkler Heads, migrate and accumulate in Exhaust Fans, Exhaust Hoods, HVAC Air Conveyance Systems, and ductwork. Silica Dust can also migrate and disperse to other unsuspecting areas in these facilities, and even impact nearby properties depending on the silica dust-producing activities, and environmental conditions.
These types of high surface and fugitive dust areas can impact indoor air quality, posing health risks to the occupants. OSH professionals and facility managers in charge of these facilities must prioritize the inspection of the property for possible Silica Dust. This article describes potential sources of Silica Dust and outlines best inspection practices, for OSH professionals, Certified Industrial Hygienists, and Certified Remediators, to perform the suspect Silica Dust inspection, when Silica Dust is suspected.