Silicosis primary prevention

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Silicosis is a preventable disease. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a permissible exposure limit for respirable silica of 10 mg/m3. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standard is a more stringent exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3

Primary Prevention

  • The best way to prevent silicosis is to identify work-place activities with crystalline silica dust and then to eliminate or control the exposure.

NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): NIOSH recommends that employers control exposure to respirable crystalline silica so that no worker is exposed to a time-weighted average concentration of silica greater than 50 µg/m3 of air, as determined by a full-shift sample for up to a 10-hour workday of a 40‑hour workweek OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): The OSHA general industry PEL for quartz, the most common form of crystalline silica, is an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to respirable dust. For pure quartz silica, the PEL is approximately equal to 100 µg/m3 of air

  • Measures employed to limit the exposure to crystalline silica [1] :
  • Employers are required to provide and assure the use of appropriate controls for crystalline silica-containing dust.
  • Be sure to use all available engineering controls such as blasting cabinets, water sprays, and local exhaust ventilation.
  • Substitution of less hazardous materials can also be used. ●
  • Be aware of the health effects of crystalline silica and that smoking adds to the damage. ●
  • Know the work operations where exposure to crystalline silica may occur. ●
  • Participate in any air monitoring or training programs offered by the employer. ●
  • Use type CE positive pressure abrasive blasting respirators for sandblasting. ●
  • For other operations where respirators maybe required, wear a respirator approved for protection against crystalline silica-containing dust. Do not alter the respirator in any way. :*Workers who use tight-fitting respirators cannot have beards/mustaches which interfere with the respirator seal to the face. ●
  • If possible, change into disposable or washable work clothes at the worksite; shower and change into clean clothing before leaving the worksite. ●
  • Do not eat, drink, use tobacco products, or apply cosmetics in areas where there is dust containing crystalline silica. ●
  • Wash hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics outside of the exposure area.
  • Health monitoring of workers with exposure to respirable crystalline quartz using chest radiographs and spirometry may assist in the early identification of people developing disease from their exposures.

References

  1. (PDF) https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/silicosis/si_gi.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)

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