NOW AVAILABLE IN ONTARIO
Workers and employers in the Ontario Construction Industry can receive full access to the Silica Control Tool™, its associated data, and outputs. The Tool’s user interface has undergone a facelift for Ontario and has been fully customized to meet Ontario’s health and safety regulation and standards.
TAKE ACTION • REDUCE RISK • PROTECT WORKERS
with the
If you work with sand, rock, gravel, concrete, brick, stone, mortar, granite, glass or ceramics, you are one of 429,000 workers in Canada
being exposed to crystalline silica.
The Silica Control Tool can reduce risk, protect workers, and improve efficiency for construction companies who work with silica by developing and providing an Exposure Control Plan.
Register for the Silica Control Tool
120,000 constructors in Ontario have automatic access to the Silica Control Tool using the button below attached to their workplace WSIB account number.
Workers/Worker Reps without access to a workplace WSIB account, can use the button below to submit a form that we then use to match to your WSIB account number, or create a separate licence. Please note that this request may take up to 10 business days to process.
For all other inquiries, please e-mail: onsilicacontroltool@ohcow.on.ca
Crystalline silica (chemical name: silicon dioxide; formula: SiO2) is a naturally-occurring mineral that is the basic component in sand and rock. It is found in many materials and industrial processes, including sand, rock, gravel, concrete, brick, stone, mortar, granite, glass or ceramics. The most common form of silica is quartz. Some less common forms of silica include: tridymite, cristobalite, keatite, coesite, stishovite and moganite.
Silica is one of the most common hazards on worksites in most major industries, including construction, mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and metalworking. In addition to being prevalent in so many industries, respirable silica dust is fine enough to penetrate the gas-exchange region of the lungs (called the alveoli), which damages the lung, resulting in the formation of scar tissue.
As a result, workers exposed to airborne respirable silica are at an increased risk of developing lung diseases like silicosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis, emphysema). Silica exposure has also been associated with esophageal cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and others. Silica-related diseases can occur from either short-term high exposures or long-term repeated exposures.
There are a number of benefits for employers and workers who use the tool:
- Reduces risk of silica exposure
- Reduces risk of lung disease
- Helps prioritize effective controls
- Helps employers implement safe practices to prevent impacts
The Silica Control Tool uses data that you provide to determine the amount of silica being produced, and generate an action plan to reduce exposure.
The Silica Control Tool is a data-driven program, so the information you provide will also help inform action plans for other users, and help keep the tool current with activities and practices in the construction industry. Your personal and professional data will not be shared with entities outside of project partners, OHCOW, CCOHS and IHSA. Your data and general use of the Silica Control Tool will not be used for compliance or enforcement purposes.
It’s FREE to use on your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop!
Currently built as a web-based tool, but you can run it like an app on your mobile device following these instructions:
iPhone / iPad:
After registering to use the tool using the blue button above/below:
Open the Silica Control Tool homepage using the browser on your phone.
At the bottom of the screen, tap the share icon (square with an upward arrow).
From the share options, tap Add to Home Screen.
From the Add to Home Screen pop-up, tap Add in the top right corner.
The Silica Control Tool should now be accessible from your device home screen.
Android:
After registering to use the tool using the blue button above/below:
Open the Silica Control Tool homepage using the browser on your phone.
In the top corner of your screen tap the kebab menu (3 dots).
Scroll down the list and click on Add to Home Screen.
Click Add. (You can rename the tool here if you want to).
Click Add to Home Screen button.
The Silica Control Tool should now be accessible from your device home screen.
ADDITIONAL SILICA RESOURCES
A valuable and trusted information clearing house on occupational disease and its prevention.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Prevention Office
Silica
Learn more about silica statistics, sources, exposure limits, hazards/risks, prevention tips, control methods, additional resources, plus much more.
The following two resources were produced by IHSA in their promotion of the Silica Control Tool.
You will be linked to the IHSA website to view both resources.
You will be linked to the IHSA website to view both resources.
Episode 69: Silica Exposure in the Workplace
Silica Control Tool: How To
Note: Registration is required to view the webinar
The Silica Control Tool was developed by the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) with research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Population and Public Health. Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) and system partners have adapted the tool to protect Ontario workers and reduce silica exposure.
The Silica Control Tool project is made possible by funding from and collaboration with:
