Concrete Grinder - The Concrete Cutting Tool

A concrete grinder is a tool that is used to remove paint, glue or other surface coatings from the surface of concrete. These grinders can come in both hand-held models and also floor models, and most are propane or gas powered, negating the need of a electrical wall outlet. While the concrete grinder is a piece of equipment that is much needed and used quite often, using one can pose a potential danger of vert high risk of injury. The cleaning and grinding of concrete causes dust to be dispersed into the air. If the people in the vicinity of the concrete grinder breathe the dust is breathed into the lungs, and this can pose a serious health risk to the human body. 

Dust created from using one of these concrete grinders can be a serious health hazard that not many people are aware of. Many operators who must use these tools or who have to be involved in concrete saw cutting methods, face getting the disease called silicosis. This is a disease of the lungs caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust. Contractors and construction operators may be subjected to this kind of dust in many different work place situations. Continual exposure to crystalline silica dust also happen during abrasive sand blasting procedures to remove rust and paint from bridges and buildings. Exposure to this dust can also happen when boring through rock to drill a well or using concrete saws and concrete grinders to cut through concrete.

Because one of the primary causes of silicosis is exposure to this concrete dust generated by using concrete grinders, the disease has been nicknamed grinder's disease. A large number of the operators who use tools, such as the concrete grinder, are exposed to crystalline silica dust on a regular basis. While there is some research being done to find ways to stop the effects of silica dust, beyond using masks and concrete dust extractors, at this time there is no solution to this problem and no cure.

A concrete grinder is a well designed tool used to level, clean or smooth concrete, marble and granite. While these a concrete grinder can make a contractor's job easier, they pose a potential hazard to their health. The best news is that some grinders already come fitted with a rubber sleeve to ensure that the concrete dust produced by the grinding tools remains contained. It is important that those people using these types of construction tools take proper steps to protect themselves from dust and serious health problems.

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