OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for construction requires jobsites to limit exposure to silica. OSHA says it will try to provide some flexibility, but equipment owners and operators are still trying to make sense of it all.
The hydraulic attachments can be part of your solution. For instance, Epiroc premium SB breakers are the great example in the industry that come standard with an internal water port to aid in dust suppression. The integrated water channel sprays water right at the source of the dust to keep silica levels down.
But keeping dust down to help meet your requirement is just one thing that water port does. Dust reduction makes a better working environment overall. It gives the operator better visibility. And it also keeps dust from seeping into the bushings, which lowers overall cost of operation by helping to stretch out your maintenance budget.
You’ll notice that we placed the water port where you can easily access it for service. We also put the hydraulic ports out of the way on the side. That keeps hoses better protected against damage. Their multifunctional design makes connections to compressor and to the water pipe easier. The neatened array of hoses and Micro ContiLube™ II supply lines makes it easier to monitor pressure.
The SB range includes the 120-pound SB 52 to the 2,350-pound SB 1102 for carrier classes ranging 0.7 tons to 24 tons. That means we have an SB breaker that’s a perfect match for the job through a wide variety of applications.
Check them out, epiroc.us/hydraulic breakers.
If you aren’t already following development directly from OSHA, here are updates: osha.gov/construction.
About the author
Rich Elliott is Product Manager – Epiroc Hydraulic Attachment Tools, North America. He thrives on understanding each customer segment and ensuring that our products meet their unique needs. Rich has been working in the construction, rock excavation and demolition industry for more than 20 years and has extensive experience with hydraulic attachment products, as well as technical and application knowledge.
