Quartz and Respirable Dust in the Dutch Construction Industry: A Baseline Exposure Assessment as Part of a Multidimensional Intervention Approach

Abstract

Quartz exposure can cause several respiratory health effects. Although quartz exposure has been described in several observational workplace studies, well-designed intervention studies that investigate the effect of control strategies are lacking. This article describes a baseline exposure study that is part of a multidimensional intervention program aiming to reduce quartz exposure among construction workers. In this study, personal respirable dust and quartz exposure was assessed among 116 construction workers (bricklayers, carpenters, concrete drillers, demolishers, and tuck pointers). Possible determinants of exposure, like job, tasks, and work practices, use of control measures, and organizational and psychosocial factors, were explored using exposure models for respirable dust and quartz separately. Stratified analyses by job title were performed to evaluate the effect of control measures on exposure and to explore the association between control measures and psychosocial factors. Overall, 62% of all measurements exceeded the Dutch occupational exposure limit for quartz and 11% for respirable dust. Concrete drillers and tuck pointers had the highest exposures for quartz and respirable dust (0.20 and 3.43mg m(-3), respectively). Significant predictors of elevated quartz exposure were abrasive tasks and type of material worked on. Surprisingly, in a univariate model, an increased knowledge level was associated with an increase in exposure. Although control measures were used infrequently, if used they resulted in approximately 40% reduction in quartz exposure among concrete drillers and tuck pointers. Only among concrete drillers, the use of control measures was associated with a higher score for social influence (factor 1.6); knowledge showed an inverse association with use of control measures for concrete drillers, demolishers, and tuck pointers. In conclusion, the detailed information on determinants of exposure, use of control measures, and constraints to use these control measures can be used for the determination and systematic prioritization of intervention measures used to design and implement our intervention strategy. This study underlines the need for multidisciplinary workplace exposure control strategies although larger study populations are necessary to determine a possible causal association between organizational and psychosocial factors and psychosocial factors and control measures.

‘Relieved Working’ study: systematic development and design of an intervention to decrease occupational quartz exposure at construction worksites

“…This assessment focused on the role of behavioral and organizational factors in relation to quartz exposure among construction workers [22]. The questionnaire distributed among construction workers was completed by 116 eligible participants, and produced insights in the behavioral factors.…”

“…Although experimental studies showed a significant exposure reduction by using these technical control measures, the use of technical control measures varied among the construction workers in the current study. The baseline study illustrated that ”maintaining a good health” and “inconvenience for eyes and airways” were mentioned by construction workers as reasons to work with these technical control measures [22]. Workers mentioned tools with poor ergonomic design, potentially resulting in a lower productivity, as constraints to work with technical control measures [22].…”

“…The baseline study illustrated that ”maintaining a good health” and “inconvenience for eyes and airways” were mentioned by construction workers as reasons to work with these technical control measures [22]. Workers mentioned tools with poor ergonomic design, potentially resulting in a lower productivity, as constraints to work with technical control measures [22]. A previous study showed that using technical control measures with wet suppression resulted in wet materials or in a slippery working area [24].…”

“…Additional to the technical control measures, specific work activities are associated with higher occupational quartz exposure. The baseline study showed that working inside and working with cement slots was associated with a higher exposure to both respirable dust and quartz, whereas determinants like near-field worker-source distance and work orientation at shoulder level were associated only with higher respirable dust exposure [22]. Working in the same workspace with another worker and the method of handling dusty rubbish were mentioned during the focus groups as risk factors for elevated exposure.…”

“…Previous studies showed that knowledge and theoretical competences about the proper use of technical control measures (e.g., connecting hoses and removing bags correctly, good sealing, maintenance and cleaning) are needed to maximize efficacy in controlling exposure [28–30]. Additionally, the baseline study showed that more peer pressure or presence of supervisors increased the use of technical control measures [22]. All participants in the focus groups mentioned that greater awareness and risk perception regarding the long-term health consequences of being exposed to dust and quartz potentially increases the use of technical control measures.…”