Introduction: Silica is an element of easy exploitation and due to its physicochemicalcharacteristics has been widely used in industry as a target, raw material or byproductthat generates silicosis in workers who have been exposed to silica dust through theyears and is a disease that progresses even when exposure ceases.Silicosis is known as a disease of high and historical incidence and prevalenceworldwide, that why it is necessary to evaluate occupational exposure to silica(respirable fraction) in companies of different economic sectors that are affiliated to anARL in Colombia, to contribute with updated in different regions of Colombia and invarious economic activities diagnostic information.3Objectives: To assess occupational exposure to silica and the level of risk in an ARLaffiliated companies according to their geographical location, economic activity, workarea, position and relate the control measures employed in each company.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 239 industrial hygienemeasurements of 159 companies from different activities through the association ofoccupational variables with the characteristics of silica exposure was carried out.Results: The activities reported higher concentrations of silica were: mining andquarrying 6,340mg / m3, industrial maintenance, electromechanical and civilassemblies, machinery 1.312 mg / m3, metal, appliances and equipment 0.096 mg / m3and Construction 0.702 mg / m3 also work areas and professions associated with theseactivities were classified at a level of critical risk.Discussion: A segmented analysis into two groups A and B according to themeasurement time was performed, it was found that for the risk index in both groupsindicate an over-exposure of workers to critical levels, why is necessary to generate astrategy intervention to decrease time silica concentrations in work areas and reducethe exposure of workers.
