Construction workers face numerous physical hazards when navigating worksites. From multistory structures and moisture-slicked surfaces to overbearing power tools and large-scale industrial vehicles, builders encounter all manner of danger. While many employees in the industry manage to avoid sustaining injuries on the job, a significant number fall victim to various worksite hazards. In 2015, more than 930 workers were injured on construction sites, constituting approximately 21 percent of the all workplace injuries recorded that year, according to research from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. While many of these builders succumb to some of the traditional dangers mentioned above, others visited hospitals due to an under-the-radar yet equally debilitating threat: respirable crystalline silica.

The dangers of silica

Individuals in the construction industry are regularly exposed to this poisonous substance, which often enters the air via sandblasting, according to OSHA. Brick cutting, concrete drilling and mixing, jackhammering and tunneling activities also emit silica, a natural material found within the Earth’s crust. When breathed in, the substance enters the lungs and causes scarring. This scar tissue inhibits oxygen intake, resulting in an incurable condition called silicosis. The disease progresses through several stages, depending on exposure time. Some workers contract manageable forms of silicosis and experience milder symptoms such as fatigue or shortness of breath, while others who have experienced increased exposure suffer from sudden respiratory failure, which is often fatal.