Vent: Just read something about concrete dust that got me worried

I was looking up some safety stuff online last night and found a report from a trade health group. It said concrete dust isn't just a nuisance, it can actually cause a lung disease called silicosis, and it can happen way faster than I thought. The report said some guys have gotten sick after only 10 or 15 years on the job if they don't wear the right mask. I've been finishing for about 8 years now and I'll admit, I'm bad about just using a cheap dust mask when I'm cutting or grinding. I always figured the real danger was from the big clouds, not the day-to-day stuff. This really made me stop and think about all the dry sweeping I've done without protection. Has anyone else looked into getting those proper respirators, and which kind actually works without fogging your safety glasses?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesley_jones21d ago

You know my buddy's dad got a bad cough from concrete dust? What respirator did you end up looking at?

allen.kai21d ago

Honestly that stuff gets overblown sometimes. My uncle did concrete work for 30 years with just a bandana and he's fine. The real problem is when you're in a closed space with no air moving. A good shop fan is probably more important than some expensive mask.

vera_lewis221d ago

Yeah, but that cough is the body's early warning system (even if he feels fine now).