Dawson Road Maintenance is working with the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) to provide occupational exposure data to WorkSafeBC as part of an ongoing effort to better understand silica exposure during pre-cleaning for linseed oil application on bridges.
This work involves testing that happens during a controlled use of compressed air. Normally, compressed air is not used around silica-containing materials because it can release fine dust into the air, which poses a health risk if inhaled. For this project, Dawson Road Maintenance is using compressed air under an approved variance from WorkSafeBC, meaning the activity is permitted only under strict, monitored conditions and solely for the purpose of collecting this exposure data.
The exposure data gathered through these tests will be shared with BCCSA to help improve the safety tools and guidelines used across the construction and road maintenance industry. Silica exposure is a recognized occupational health hazard in construction work, and industry-wide data helps refine the guidance and controls available to employers and workers across the sector.
Angie Crawford, Dawson Road Maintenance’s Superintendent of Bridges, was vital to the success of this effort, coordinating the field component of the project and documenting the sampling activities through photos. Collaboration between industry, safety associations, and regulators is what turns real-world exposure data into safer conditions on the ground. By contributing this information, Dawson Road Maintenance is helping make sure workers across the industry, not just our own crews, have better tools to stay safe on the job.