What is it?

Cutting, grinding, chasing or drilling concrete, brick, stone, tiles and mortar releases respirable crystalline silica (RCS) — an invisible dust that can cause silicosis, COPD and lung cancer. The Silica Dust Awareness Template gives you a clear, ready-to-brief toolbox talk + control plan so your team can recognise silica risks, control exposure at source, and record what you’ve done.

Built for small builders, sole traders and principal contractors who want practical controls and evidence they were communicated.

⚠️ Note: Supports duties under COSHH and good practice for controlling construction dusts. It complements (not replaces) competent assessments and health surveillance where indicated.

Why You Need It:

1️⃣ Control Dust at the Source Prompts for elimination/substitution and engineering controls: on-tool extraction (LEV), M/H-class vacuums, water suppression, and pre-cut materials where possible.
2️⃣ Make RPE Selection Make Sense Plain-English guidance on picking tight-fitting RPE with an appropriate Assigned Protection Factor (APF), face-fit testing, seal checks, filter types, and wearer maintenance.
3️⃣ Stop Dust Spreading Housekeeping rules that work: no dry sweeping, use class-rated vacuums, damp methods, waste bagging/sealing, and zoning to keep others out of dust.
4️⃣ Keep People Informed & Protected Simple Do/Don’t rules workers remember: keep tools sharp, use guards and shrouds, minimise cutting time, rotate tasks, protect bystanders, and never remove extraction to “save time.”
5️⃣ Build a Solid Paper Trail Includes briefing sign-offs, exposure/control records, and health surveillance prompts so you can show clients, auditors and insurers you’re on top of silica risk.

What You Get:

✅ Fully editable Word document (DOCX)
✅ Toolbox Talk script (what silica is, where it’s found, health effects, controls)
✅ Task-based control checklist (chasing, drilling, grinding, cutting, mixing)
✅ LEV & vacuum guide (on-tool extraction, M/H-class selection, maintenance)
✅ Water suppression prompts (flow, method, slurry management, environmental)
✅ RPE selector (APF notes, face-fit reminder, care & storage)
✅ Housekeeping & waste guide (no dry sweep, damp wipe, sealed bags)
✅ Do/Don’t one-pager to print and post in the work area
✅ Exposure/control record sheet (task, duration, controls, RPE/PPE used)
✅ Health surveillance prompts (who, when, red-flag symptoms)
✅ Attendance register & signature sheet
✅ Action log (defects, damaged extraction, filter changes, refresher briefings)
✅ Spaces for your logo, project details & date

🛠️ Built for:

– Sole traders and small builders cutting/grinding masonry products
– Principal contractors coordinating multi-trade refurb/fit-out works
– Site supervisors who need a fast, credible silica briefing with proof of delivery
– Trades: brick/stone cutters, tilers, carpenters (cement boards), dryliners, demo crews, groundworkers

Ready to cut dust — not corners?

Grab the Silica Dust Awareness Template and deliver a no-nonsense, compliant briefing in minutes.