Discuss the material and the proposed activity
Removing a finish and grinding the material beneath it are different activities. Ask the assessor which hard materials and methods are involved, rather than describing the whole job as ordinary dust. CCOHS identifies respirable silica dust as a serious inhalation hazard. The responsible professionals must assess the actual material and exposure.
Ask who plans and checks the controls
Before accepting a removal approach, ask who assesses dust generation, selects the controls and checks they are suitable for the site. Explain adjoining occupied areas and shared circulation. This guide does not specify equipment, respirators or exposure limits: those decisions need the actual work method and professional judgement.
Include cleanup in the discussion
Dust control is also relevant after material is detached. CCOHS advises against dry sweeping and compressed-air cleanup for silica. Ask how the contractor's plan addresses collection, retained areas and the condition needed for the next trade. A visibly tidy room is not a measurement of airborne exposure or a clearance certificate.
Keep grinding separate if it is not included
Record the stopping surface in the floor-layer schedule. If the next installer later asks for grinding or another dusty process, have that activity assessed and agreed separately. Do not let an ambiguous phrase such as clean concrete silently add a new method or specialist scope.
Questions to settle before the next step
Use this decision table with the people responsible for your property. Record the actual answers in your private project file.
| Decision | Question or evidence | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Removal, cutting or surface preparation? | Responsible assessor |
| Adjacent use | Occupied rooms and circulation | Control plan questions |
| Completion | Cleanup and following-trade boundary | Agree evidence, not appearance alone |
Keep your completed record private. Bring the relevant scope questions into the optional project planner or discuss them directly with Clearpath.
Official information
Check the applicable requirements for your property and proposed work with the responsible authority or qualified professional.
Source references reviewed October 8, 2026.