this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2026
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[–] Einskjaldi@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sure can, you just use vacuums or air suction to filter it and it goes in bags. And generally a powder like that will be very different after getting wet, it's more likely to clump together and not be as dusty anyway.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

That's not always true. For example concrete/cement would be great at clumping and staying clumped. Silica on the other hand may not do that always. If you charge those particles with static from motion they won't want to stick together. Or if they're clumped and dry they'll come apart again. If your particle size is smaller than 1um your vacuum will be literally blasting this stuff into fumes all over the place and well charged statically.

[–] VicksVaporBBQrub@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I'm curious why target common silicon dioxide (silica) when cheap $100 air quality monitors (including detection of static VOCs) exist that measure down to 0.3um. Wide application ranges at that low (unfilterable) range. From steam discharge monitoring, to oll vapours, to chemical fumes, to residential air quality on weather stations.

[–] zabadoh@ani.social 3 points 1 week ago

I think you're placing too much faith in just the existence of good equipment to keep workers safe.

Good safe equipment does exist, But 1) It only works to protect employees health if it's in good condition, and 2) Depending on employers who aren't cheap enough or ignorant enough to use inferior equipment that will indirectly endanger employees' health.

It's more reliable just to require use of safe materials, especially if there isn't much cost difference.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 2 points 1 week ago

Particle counters are good. But they only tell you about what's happening near the worksite. Remember the advice of walking 6ft apart so you wouldn't catch covid, but then it turned out to be wack? Same here. You get a particle in the wrong place at the wrong time and you'll develop cancer.

[–] Einskjaldi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Air filters do just fine with silica dust, it clogs filters faster but just needs more bag changes.