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TAKE ACTION • REDUCE RISK • PROTECT WORKERS
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.
Your data and use of the Silica Control Tool will not be used for compliance or enforcement.
Your personal and professional data will not be shared with entities outside of project partners, BCCSA and OHCOW.
These organizations exist to provide information, resources and services for Ontario workers—they do not serve a regulatory or compliance function.
Have questions? silica@ohcow.on.ca
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.
Using data provided by the user, the Silica Control Tool determines the amount of silica being produced and generates an action plan (like the one above) to reduce exposure and protect workers.
BENEFITS OF THE SILICA CONTROL TOOL
REDUCES RISK OF SILICA EXPOSURE
REDUCES RISK OF LUNG DISEASE
PRIORITIZES EFFECTIVE CONTROLS
PREVENTS INJURY / ILLNESS
THROUGH SAFE PRACTICES
NEW PODCAST!
The Dangers of Silica in the Workplace
An Introductory Podcast – the First in Our New Silica Series
A conversation on the health effects of respirable crystalline silica
and the new Ontario Silica Control Tool.
It’s FREE to use on your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop!
Run the Silica Control Tool like an app on your mobile device following these instructions:
iPhone / iPad:
After registering to use the tool using the blue button above/below:
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Open the Silica Control Tool homepage using the browser on your phone.
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At the bottom of the screen, tap the share icon (square with an upward arrow).
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From the share options, tap Add to Home Screen.
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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:
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Open the Silica Control Tool homepage using the browser on your phone.
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In the top corner of your screen tap the kebab menu (3 dots).
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Scroll down the list and click on Add to Home Screen.
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Click Add. (You can rename the tool here if you want to).
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Click Add to Home Screen button.
The Silica Control Tool should now be accessible from your device home screen.
More About Silica
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.
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.
Additional Silica Resources
- All
- Hygiene
- Silica
- Silica Control Tool
- Silicosis
The Dangers of Silica in the Workplace: In the News
March 2024 • A discussion of Silica exposures covered in the news, including the recent ban on artificial stone in Australia.
The Dangers of Silica in the Workplace
January 2024 • Relevant for construction workers and others, the dangers of crystalline silica in the workplace is discussed.
Silica Control Tool Stickers
January 2024 • Build awareness of the dangers of silica and the Silica Control Tool using these stickers from OHCOW. Workers can link to and register for the Silica Control Tool using the handy QR code.
Silica Control Tool: How To
December 2023 • An IHSA webinar on how to access and use the Silica Control Tool.
Silica Exposure in the Workplace
November 2023 • An IHSA Safety Podcast, featuring OHCOW’s Shirly Yan (Occupational Hygienist) discussing the hazards posed by silica in construction.
Silica Control Tool Poster
November 2023 • Promote awareness the dangers of silica and the availability of the Silica Control Tool with this large, colourful, educational poster from OHCOW.
Silica Control Tool Flyer
November 2023 • Get the facts on the dangers of silica in this colourful, educational poster from OHCOW. Download and post it in your workplace to help build awareness of this dangerous substance.
Occupational Disease Landscape Review & ECHO OEM Providing the Tools for Primary Care
November 2023 • Part One: Introduction of the Silica Control Tool to Ontario hosted by Kimberly O’Connell.
Occ-tober 2023: Launch of Ontario Silica Control Tool & Ontario’s OHS System Focus
Webinar Recorded November 3, 2023
Hosted by Kimberly OConnell. Part One: introduction of the Silica Control Tool to Ontario
Silica Control Tool Launches in Ontario
November 6, 2023 • New tool helps protect Ontario construction workers from lung disease
Silica Control Tool Launch
November 2023 • The Silica Control Tool has been updated for use in the Ontario Construction Industry. Find out how to register and protect workers.
Silica – Facts, Stats, and Questions Answered
SEPT 2023 • An infographic about Silica, one of the most common hazards on a worksite that damages the lungs and causes scar tissue to form, leading to diseases including silicosis and cancer if inhaled.
Worker-Focused Science & Prevention Webinars Kickoff Event
October 27, 2022
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Occ|tober & Beyond: A Webinar Series Kickoff Event
![November 2021
[NEWS]
[Daily Commercial News]
Sixty contractors in Ontario are taking part in a 12-month pilot testing the merits of a digital tool developed to quickly prepare control plans to mitigate the potential health risks of overexposure to crystalline silica.](https://www.ohcow.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/logo-divider-bar.png){kind=logo}
Ontario Contractors Embark on Silica Tool Pilot Project
November 2021
[NEWS]
[Daily Commercial News]
Sixty contractors in Ontario are taking part in a 12-month pilot testing the merits of a digital tool developed to quickly prepare control plans to mitigate the potential health risks of overexposure to crystalline silica.
Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Update and BC Silica Tool
2019
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Valerie Wolfe and Kimberly O’Connell, OHCOW
Nancy Bradshaw, Ministry of Labour (MOL)
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
Access the Silica Control Tool using one of these three options:
Already have an account?
Already have a WSIB number...
DON'T have a WSIB number...
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:
120,000 constructors in Ontario have automatic access to the Silica Control Tool using the button above attached to their workplace WSIB account number.
Workers/Worker Reps without access to a WSIB account, can use the button above to register through a different process*.
*This request may take up to 10 business days to process.
* * * IMPORTANT * * *
Your data and use of the Silica Control Tool will not be used for compliance or enforcement.
Your personal and professional data will not be shared with entities outside of project partners, BCCSA and OHCOW.
These organizations exist to provide information, resources and services for Ontario workers—they do not serve a regulatory or compliance function.
The Silica Control Tool is a data-driven program, so the information you provide will help inform action plans for other users, and help keep the tool current with activities and practices in the construction industry, but it will not be used for regulatory or compliance purposes.
