NIOSH 7500 Crystalline Silica Test - Single Species (Bulk)

Exposure to crystalline silica generally results from the following activities: cutting concrete, stone, glass and similar masonry materials, sandblasting, rock drilling and blasting, grading, mining and other construction-related activities, and various manufacturing activities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed standards for industries such as the general industry and marine industries to limit worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica. These standards require employers to take steps to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Very small dust particles are created when workers cut, grind, drill or crush materials containing crystalline silica.

On the other hand, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is developing standards in this direction. The NIOSH 7500 standard is one of them. This standard defines a test method for testing single type (bulk) crystalline silica. This procedure for determining crystalline silica in bulk samples requires homogenizing the bulk sample and sieving it to particle sizes up to 10 µm in diameter. The resulting residue is analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry. This method measures up to 1 percent of crystalline silica in routine analysis.

Mainly advanced laboratories use X-ray diffractometry (XRD) instrument to perform high speed mineralogical analyzes of dust, soil, air and rock samples for all types of crystalline silicon materials. Laboratory staff of highly trained geologists and mineralogists have the ability to analyze even the toughest samples, including those containing a lot of obstructive dust that often occurs outdoors.

Testing services provided in this context mainly include the following studies:

• Amorphous silica air type
• Amorphous silica bulk type
• Crystalline silica, all types air type
• Crystalline silica, all types are bulk type
• Crystalline silica, monotype (alpha quartz, cristobalite, tridymite) air type
• Crystalline silica, monotype (alpha quartz, cristobalite, tridymite) cast type
• Airborne silica dust samples under the NIOSH 7500 standard

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides crystalline silica, single type (bulk) testing services within the scope of NIOSH 7500 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.