Companies that install, remove, and manufacture drywall are also expected to meet the OSHA silica standard for drywall and implement best practice policies to minimize worker risk. Those are critical reasons why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated workplace regulations.
And workers who come in contact with old joint compounds are routinely exposed to asbestos. In addition, products imported from China have put workers in harm’s way due to excessive use of sulfur and other contaminants. When these sometimes-toxic particles are inhaled, upper respiratory conditions such as asthma and lung cancer can result. Although drywall is generally thought of as a relatively safe construction material, the silica dust released when cutting and sanding takes place creates a significant health risk for installers and demolition crews.ĭrywall sheets and the compounds used in joints contain elements such as talc, calcite, mica, gypsum, silica, and even high-risk items such as mercury.
