"A Little Bit Harmful" Doesn't Exist — Quartz Dust Is Simply Harmful |
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J&E Calls Attention to Quartz Dust Released During Artificial Turf Installation
According to artificial turf specialist J&E Sports, healthy working conditions deserve more attention, especially regarding the question: what happens on the field during installation—what is and isn't acceptable? "One thing is certain: driving around in dust is absolutely not okay," says director Ed Korstanje. "But it still happens too often, to the detriment of both workers and the environment."
| When sand falls from a tipper with grab bucket into the sand spreader, there is little quartz dust nuisance. |
In recent years, J&E has proactively taken steps toward a better world. For example, the company purchased electric equipment to reduce environmental impact. They also invested in C1 trucks with higher payloads and use PPE to promote safety. But beyond environmental and safety measures, J&E believes healthy working conditions also deserve more attention. Director Korstanje explains: "Take quartz dust, for example, which is released from refilled sand supplies when it leaves the silos. This not only creates unhealthy working conditions, but also contributes to ambient dust."
Tippers With Grab Buckets
Quartz dust (crystalline silica) is often found in sand. Long-term exposure can cause serious health problems, such as silicosis (a lung disease), lung cancer, and other respiratory issues. The risk depends on how long and how often you are exposed, and how well you protect yourself. Fortunately, artificial turf installers don't handle sand daily—at most one day a week or every two weeks during peak season. "We also use tippers with grab buckets to deposit sand into the spreader 80 percent of the time," says Korstanje. "Hardly any quartz dust is released during this process. What little dust does escape settles immediately onto the field and doesn't become airborne. If you're standing next to the field, you won't notice it. Our staff are required to wear P3 dust masks to avoid inhaling harmful particles. That's sufficient to prevent irritation, as shown in a 2014 study."
Silos
The other 20 percent of the time, J&E uses sand from silos. Suppliers typically resort to silos when accessibility is poor. Silos are also used more often in spring and fall when there's a greater chance of rain or unstable weather. Korstanje explains: "Silos can be pre-filled with sand. If it rains the next day, the sand doesn't need to be used immediately. But with tippers, the sand must be spread immediately—even on wet fields, which doesn't work well. In spring and fall, sand stays wet longer. In summer, it dries quickly after rain. Also, in the off-season, sand suppliers usually have fewer tippers and grab buckets available. That's why they rely more on silos."
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"It's not a top priority, but it really should be."
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Quartz Dust Nuisance From Refilled Silos
Normally, a silo filled with installation sand doesn't cause quartz dust problems. But when refilled, a bulk truck blows sand into the silo from below using high pressure. This can release tiny quartz dust flakes from the sand. That dust doesn't disappear—it becomes airborne again when the silo opens and sand falls into the spreader. "If there's too much quartz dust, a big cloud forms around the spreader. Sometimes it's so thick you can't see the machine or the field," says Korstanje. "Even though our workers wear P3 masks, dust still gets into their eyes. And if you're standing next to the field, you're caught in the cloud—your eyes, nose, and mouth are affected."
"Several weeks ago, we stopped work on our own initiative to protect our workers and the surrounding area. As is often the case, there was an after-school care center near the sports club, and children were playing outside. The wind was wrong, and the dust didn't just surround the spreader, it also reached the care center. It didn't feel responsible to keep going. It's strange that a contractor has to stop the work and absorb the extra cost. And it wasn't the first time—it's happened multiple times."
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"The wind blew the dust cloud toward the playing children. It wasn't responsible to continue the work."
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Tackling It at the Source
Korstanje acknowledges that quartz dust from silos is not a new problem. So why the urgency now? "We're concerned about the health of people on site and nearby—especially children at daycares or in neighborhoods. We've already discussed the issue several times with sand suppliers, but change doesn't happen overnight," says Korstanje. Ideally, he'd like to see clients care as much about what happens on the field as J&E does.
"Right now, it's mostly up to us—using electric machinery, higher-capacity trucks, and safety PPE. These steps aren't yet required or monitored. The excessive release of quartz dust still isn't being addressed at the source: the sand supplier."
Specification Requirement
That's why J&E recently approached three specification writers to discuss the issue and propose better regulation. "They fully agreed with us. One option they suggested was to include a clause in appendix 3 of the specification stating that sand must not cause ambient dust. If clients adopt this, we—and other companies—can demand sand that doesn't release excess quartz dust."
Such a specification wouldn't dictate how suppliers should prevent it. According to Korstanje, misting the sand during loading might help. "But the sand must have the right moisture level, or it won't flow out of the silo. Another solution is using more tippers with grab buckets. The message isn't falling on deaf ears at the supplier level, but a structural solution for everyone—not just J&E—requires broader attention."
J&E is taking the first step, but the whole market needs to ask itself how to tackle the issue. Korstanje: "Together we'll find a solution faster than if we're the only ones raising it. Right now, it's not a top priority—but it should be. It's not about the 80 percent of the time when there's no problem; it's the 20 percent when there is. That harms our workers and the environment. 'A little bit harmful' doesn't exist—quartz dust is simply harmful."
This article was previously published on 22 April 2025 on the Fieldmanager website.
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