12 2017 | TECH a fine. My question back to them is, ‘How do you know it exceeds the limits?’ They don’t know. “Our priority is my people’s safety, so we are going to reduce the amount of dry cutting tile (Makita grinders and such),” he explained. “We are using wet saws, IQ dust-containment saws, tile cutters and we’re spraying water when using grinders. A majority of cuts will be outside, which slows us down. We have informed the GCs and architects that we will reduce the number of round cuts at escutcheons and move to two separate cuts to avoid grinders. “I am a big proponent of dustless saws and the use of tile cutters,” Woelfel continued. “When we do cut, we are requiring ear protection and dust masks that have been approved by OSHA. We are also rotating our people so that there is no more than three hours cutting per person per day. This will help us meet the new requirements; it will also drive up our labor costs, making it easier to be undercut by tile hacks that don’t follow OSHA. “So, in effect,” he said, “a new government regulation will create more compliance work for a tile contractor who follows the new rules, but will have the adverse effect of creating more opportunities for the tile contrac- tor who doesn’t know or follow the new ruling.” Developing safer products A positive shift in the silica issue, said Welch, has been the manu- facturers who desire to produce safer and improved products, such as devices designed to safeguard breathing. For example, Kevin Moser, of Moser Tile, Design & Construction, Billings, Mont., is very happy with his new BlueDri Air Shield 550 HEPA Air Scrubber. “It’s a three-part filtration system that helps prevent airborne parti- cles from getting all over the house. I have already demoed two jobs with it and can actually breathe easily without wearing a mask.” As for Kozey, the new iQ244TS dustless dry saw from IQ Power Tools is a new favorite. “I’m a big Kevin Moser Products like the iQ244TS dustless power saw are aiding compliance to OSHA's new ruling. High Quality Metal Trims and Pre-Molded Expansion Joints for all of Your Flooring Needs Carpet/Vinyl Trim Reducers Reverse Trim Ceramic Tool Call or click today! 800.236.5230 www.ceramictool.com Designers and manufacturers of superior quality anodized aluminum flooring transitions & custom stainless steel products MADE IN USA METHODS AND STANDARDS (continued)