Certainly OSHA’s silica rule made life more challenging on job sites. For framer Tim Uhler, however, it wasn’t just about complying to a rule. The new reg shone a bright light on the hazards of drilling concrete. He was not thrilled to learn that when silica dust gets into the lungs, it doesn’t come out, and long-term exposure can cause major problems to the lungs and kidneys. As a full-time framer in it for the long-haul, it seemed like a rule he wanted to learn how to comply with.
Working with the JLC Group’s Tools of the Trade, he looked at five rotary hammers with on-board dust extraction, each capable of drilling up to a 1-inch-diameter hole. For attaching mudsill to slabs, he typically needs to drill 1/4-inch holes for split-drive anchors and 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch holes for Titen HD bolts, or, on rare occasion, 3/4-inch holes for epoxy threaded rod.