10 2017 | TECH METHODS AND STANDARDS (continued) ers plying their trade on the newly created CTI tests. The outcome was the first five CTIs in the U.S. “At that first test,” he explained, “controlling dust and noise were critical factors in making the test a reality. Doing so required that the cementitious backer board had to be cut using the then-popular scoring cutter and snapping the board accordingly. When it came to mixing small amounts of thin-set mortar and grout, most was done by hand with a margin trowel and bucket. “Wow, how things have changed in 10 years,” he said. “Today, backer board is routinely cut with an angle grind- er and powders are mixed with an electric mixing paddle. Enter OSHA, and effective September 23 new rules are in place, which will limit the amount of free silica that can be created on a jobsite along with monitoring the expo- sure to which workers are exposed.” CTEF recognized the potential sources of free silica and has proactively made immediate changes to the pro- cedures used during the operation of the CTI hands-on test, he added. Effective August 1, 2017, the use of angle grinders, circular saws, or other devices that emit dust during cutting activities are banned from use. The use of score awl or carbide-tipped scoring cutter is recom- mended. Additionally, studies are underway by CTEF to deter- mine compliance requirements for mixing mortars and grout, Carothers noted. The use of HEPA-filtered vacuums using a dust containment device that attaches to the edge of the bucket may become the better way to protect workers on the jobsite and qualified tile installers on the CTI test site. “This process is truly a work in progress,” Carothers said. “Change is certain to be in the future on the jobsite.” A huge undertaking As far as steps being undertaken by contractors regard- ing the new ruling, according to Welch, who also serves as Welch Tile & Marble’s safety manager, the new silica rule is going to be a very large undertaking. “We here at Welch Tile have done a lot of research and reaching out to oth- ers to put together a program we feel will comply with the OHSA standard and keep our guys protected,” she said. Of the new OSHA rules pertaining to silica, Welch noted, the announcement and force behind it feels like the asbestos focus in the ‘90s. “After reviewing the new silica standards and consulting with other safety direc- tors, we have opted to interpret and standardize the silica requirement table for our installation team. “Our purpose behind creating a ‘Welch Tile Silica – Standard Practice’ table,” she explained, “is aimed at taking the guess work out for our staff, to promote consis- tent education, and track/audit for compliance. “The kicker of the new OSHA standard is not the edu- cation part,” Welch noted. “For most safety officers, the over four hours of ‘exposure’ represents the challenge. Most of the companies we consulted with plan to simply stay under the four hours. However, we know this is not always possible on a larger-production project unless you can split the task in question between two individuals.” Welch Tile is 100% committed to safety, she said, and “here are a few things we are doing in regard to silica: staff-wide awareness; educational materials that will be tied into our apprenticeship program; code-compliant vacuums were purchased for large and small grinders; logistics will be stepped up to include the right equip- ment for tasks at hand; project foremen are training how to approach and carry out each task type; tool and task reference sheets are available with control plan stan- dards; pre-hazardous planning meetings will cover silica; and we also offer just-in-time training or evaluation – especially in small-volume areas.” Metrics not yet in place According to James Woelfel, vice president of Artcraft Granite, Marble & Tile in Mesa, Ariz., and NTCA’s chairman of the board, the OSHA regulation is “very difficult to get a handle on, as the technology to mea- sure some of the dust has not even been developed yet. Here in Arizona, the state OSHA has determined if they see dust when cutting it will be James Woelfel Proper protection is essential during hands-on exams as well as the jobsite, said CTEF's Scott Carothers.