In construction, a crusher is a machine designed to reduce large rocks or demolition materials into smaller, more manageable sizes. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), crushers are commonly used in the construction and mining industries to process raw materials such as stone, concrete, and asphalt for use in road building, foundations, and other infrastructure projects (OSHA, 2023).
Crushers operate through mechanical pressure or impact. The most common types used in construction include jaw crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, and gyratory crushers. Jaw crushers are typically used for primary crushing—breaking down large boulders into smaller pieces—using a compressive force between two surfaces, one fixed and one moving (ASTM International, 2021). Cone and impact crushers are often employed in secondary or tertiary stages to further refine the material to specific size requirements..jpg)
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides standards for aggregate size and quality in construction applications. For example, ASTM C33 outlines specifications for concrete aggregates, which often require crushed stone produced by these machines (ASTM C33/C33M – 22). The use of properly sized and graded aggregate is critical for ensuring structural integrity in concrete mixtures and pavement layers.
In road construction projects, mobile crushers are frequently deployed on-site to recycle concrete from demolished structures. This practice supports sustainable construction by reducing waste and transportation costs. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) promotes the use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), noting that crushing old concrete on-site can yield material suitable for base layers in new pavements (FHWA-HIF-11-007).
Safety is a key concern when operating crushers. OSHA mandates that workers follow strict procedures regarding lockout/tagout (LOTO), guarding of moving parts, and dust control due to silica exposure risks during crushing operations. Dust generated from crushing operations may contain respirable crystalline silica, a known health hazard regulated under OSHA’s silica standard (29 CFR 1926.1153)..jpg)
In summary, a crusher in construction is an essential piece of equipment used to break down rock or recycled materials into specified sizes for use in building projects. Its application is guided by engineering standards and safety regulations to ensure efficiency, quality control, and worker protection.