Find out if this job crosses your province's dust limits, before your OHS regulator does.

For sole proprietors and small firms cutting, grinding, chasing or drilling silica, wood or MDF. Picks the right RPE and flags WHMIS gaps against your provincial Occupational Exposure Limit.

1. Which province or jurisdiction is the work in?

2. What material are you working with?

3. What are you doing to it?

4. How long will you be doing this per day?

5. Is the work indoors or outdoors?

6. Is there water suppression on the tool?

Hose, misting attachment, or water-fed blade

7. Is there extraction or LEV (local exhaust ventilation)?

e.g. a dust extractor attached to the tool

8. What RPE (respiratory protective equipment) are you wearing?

A paper dust mask (surgical-style) provides NO protection against silica dust. Only a properly face-fit tested FFP2/N95 or FFP3/N100 mask counts.

What the law actually says

•The respirable crystalline silica limit varies by province - most use 0.025 mg/m3, Saskatchewan and the territories 0.05, and Ontario 0.10 (less protective). Whatever the limit, control the dust at source. Check your provincial OHS regulation for the current OEL.

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