Tile & Stone Setters
Tile setters spend their days kneeling, mixing heavy thinset, and cutting tile and stone that release silica dust.
- Construction
Top hazards
- Silica dust from cutting, grinding and drilling tile and stone
- Knee injuries from long hours kneeling
- Back strain from heavy boxes, slabs and buckets
- Cuts from tile edges and wet saws
- Skin irritation and burns from thinset, grout and cement-based products; solvent adhesives
- Electrical shock from wet saws
Key practices
- Cut wet, or use tools with vacuum dust collection. See Silica.
- Plug wet saws into GFCI protection.
- Wear good knee pads and take standing breaks.
- Use carts and team lifts for slabs and boxes.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when mixing; wash skin promptly.
Large-format tile and slabs
Big porcelain panels and stone slabs are heavy, flexible and break easily. Carry them on edge with A-frame carts or suction handles and enough people. A cracked panel can break into sharp, heavy pieces. Wear cut-resistant gloves and sleeves.
Wet saws
- Plug into a GFCI and keep cords and connections out of the water. See GFCI.
- Keep the blade guard on and hands clear of the blade path; use the sliding table, not your hands, to push tile.
- Wear eye protection; tile chips fly.
- See Wet Tile Saws.
Mixing
- Pouring bags of thinset and grout makes cement and silica dust. Pour slowly, mix outside or with ventilation, and wear a respirator if dust is visible.
- Mixing paddles can grab gloves and clothing. Start the drill in the bucket and hold it firmly.
- Cement products cause skin burns and rashes. Wear gloves and wash skin. See Cement Burns.
Old floors
Removing old tile can expose asbestos in vinyl tile, mastic or older ceramic setting materials, and lead in some old glazes. Test suspect materials first. See Flooring Installers.
Job checklist
- Wet saw on GFCI; guard in place
- Dust controls for cutting and grinding
- Knee pads and kneeling board
- Carts or suction handles for large tile
- Gloves, glasses and wash water
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.1153: Silica, Table 1
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