It is also found in building products made from these materials such as bricks, tiles and concrete.
Workers in other areas of the construction industry are at a greater risk but crane operators should still be aware of the facts.
The HSE said every year nearly two million employees are exposed to crystalline silica.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published a consultative document seeking comments on a proposal for a new Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL).
The HSE estimated that at least 100,000 workers are exposed to dust containing crystalline silica on a regular basis.
Long-term exposure to dusts containing respirable it can lead to the development of silicosis – a slowly developing irreversible lung disease.
Heavy and prolonged exposures under conditions that are sufficient to cause silicosis can also lead to an increased risk of lung cancer.
Evidence suggests that a WEL of 0.1 mg.m-3 for crystalline silica would, in the long-term, considerably reduce the chances of developing silicosis.
