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I would expect that a shop that specializes in cutting countertops would have equipment to cut them with essentially no dust exposure. Water jets come to mind
by amluto 3y ago
I would expect that a shop that specializes in cutting countertops would have equipment to cut them with essentially no dust exposure. Water jets come to mind (and people even sell waterjet tools specifically designed for cutting countertops), but a CNC mill with good dust collection ought to be able to do the job pretty well, too.
So why is there so much dust exposure to begin with? Here's an article showing someone attacking a countertop with an angle grinder without dust collection at all:
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/07/425871/deadly-dust-engineered-stone-making-california-workers-sick https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/07/425871/deadly-dust-enginee...
Even a basic dust collector attached to that angle grinder (these are cheap!) should make a pretty big difference.
- SkyMarshal 3y agoThis makes too much sense. Especially using water spray to collect most of the dust at the moment its created and before it diffuses into the air, and perhaps ambient mist to collect some of any remainder.
- amluto 3y agoHave you ever watched an average landscaper break or cut concrete? It’s an unbelievable mess.
- Teever 3y agoI have hundreds of hours on a Stihl TS-420 cutting concrete and plastic pipe for a water and sewer company. The saw even comes with an attachment for a waterline, but the company never provided a water source. And it wasn't because it was a small company or that they had money issues, they just didn't give a shit. Some days the foreman wouldn't even provide us potable drinking water. I can't even express the feeling of dejected irony in realizing that a company that that installs water infrastructure can't provide drinking water to the people doing the installation.
- eternityforest 3y agoIs there any trade where people actually use appropriate safety precautions? Our culture seems to be actively anti safety. It's horrible. Any attempt to protect yourself is met with shame, even if it's something as simple as not wanting to eat a sugary snack someone offers, or wearing earplugs in a dangerously loud bar, or wanting to go get a hand truck instead of lifting a piece of furniture.
- mrtesthah 3y agoNo one can force you to feel shame about those things. That's entirely on you.
- brnt 3y agoThat's not how human social interaction works though. Monkey see, monkey do. Some more than others. It is a psychological condition if you truly are immune to peer pressure.
- ASalazarMX 3y agoFortunately we can go beyond monkey.
- brnt 3y agoBut not that much, and not everyone the same amount.
- eternityforest 3y agoWith training, yes, but not everyone is lucky enough to learn before they have a permanent injury or an addiction, or they are broke and homelessness and have a criminal record. Some of these dangers we actively encourage, like high school sports, where 17yos will list off their fairly major injuries, this is considered normal, and the only realistic way to prevent those injuries would be to quit, because playing in a way that avoids injury is not what's expected.
- 3y ago