Virtual Safety Roundtable: Silica Awareness in Underground Utility Construction
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Virtual)
Silica exposure remains a serious and often underestimated hazard in underground utility construction. From trenching and excavation to cutting, drilling, and backfilling, respirable crystalline silica can be present on many utility jobsites, putting crews at risk for long-term health impacts and increased regulatory scrutiny.
Join the Arizona Chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association (AZUCA) for an interactive Virtual Safety Roundtable focused on Silica Awareness and how it applies specifically to underground utility work. This peer-driven discussion will bring safety professionals together to share real-world experiences, challenges, and practical strategies for recognizing, controlling, and managing silica exposure in the field.
Rather than a formal presentation, this roundtable is designed to encourage open conversation and knowledge sharing around what’s actually working on jobsites across Arizona.
Discussion topics will include:
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Where silica exposure commonly occurs in underground utility construction
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Understanding exposure risks during work activities
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Suppression techniques used in the field
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PPE and respiratory protection considerations for utility crews
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Training crews to recognize silica hazards and protect themselves
This session is ideal for safety managers, field supervisors, operations leaders, and anyone responsible for protecting crews working in and around excavation and utility construction activities.
AZUCA Virtual Safety Roundtables provide a collaborative, contractor-focused environment to learn from peers, ask questions, and strengthen safety culture across Arizona’s utility construction industry.
✅ Free to attend
✅ Open to members and non-members
✅ Interactive Q&A included
Not a member yet? Join the conversation anyway—you’ll get a first-hand look at how AZUCA supports Arizona’s utility construction safety professionals.
Follow us for the latest updates on safety trainings, industry news, and upcoming events:
LinkedIn: @AZUCA
Facebook: @AZUCA
Website: www.azuca.org
