The Safeguard Against Toxic Dust Exposure

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

This piece of equipment is a great way for roofing contractors to meet OSHA requirements and stay safe on the job. 

The HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter is a carefully constructed piece of equipment designed to eliminate airborne silica dust. This tool has been perfected for over four decades after listening to the feedback of contractors, who regularly use the machine. This is a must-have product for contractors interested in protecting their workers and increasing profitability.  

Safety first 

There are many ways the HYTILE Cutter protects worker health from danger on the roof. Since electrical cords or hoses are not needed, the potential for trips and falls is largely eliminated. The roof cutter also significantly reduces the potential of slipping on a roof, as it does not produce any silica dust. The roof tile cutter is a quiet tool and can be operated without the need for hearing protection. This protects worker's long-term ear health and allows for co-workers to communicate on the job.  

Silica-dust safety 

The HYTILE Cutter is a unique and efficient kind of tile cutter and does not use diamond blades to cut roof tiles. Instead, it cuts roof tiles quietly and accurately, without producing harmful silica dust. This makes the HYTILE Cutter especially appealing, as it is OSHA compliant and does not produce more that 50 micrograms of silica dust per cubic meter of air.  

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica, or Silicosis, is an incredibly dangerous respiratory disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust. It is a progressive, potentially fatal, illness with no effective treatment options. Therefore, taking preventative action is essential. 

In conclusion 

The HYTILE Cutter decreases the number of hazards workers can encounter on a roof. It not only decreases the amount of slip, fall and trip hazards, but it importantly does not produce silica dust that can cause Silicosis.  

With the HYTILE Cutter, contractors can confidently meet all health and safety regulations and also save time and money by reducing the need for saws, grinders, vacuums and other equipment on the job site. This effective and easy-to-use tool easily pays for itself in a very short amount of time. 

Additional resources 

NIOSH / CDC 

Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) 

California OSHA Proposal 

Learn more about All Points in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com.