Identifying Occupational Exposure Risks to Prevent New Cases of Silicosis

Silicosis is described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a spectrum of lung diseases caused by the inhalation of free crystalline silica. Silicosis is incurable and can lead to disability and death. Unfortunately, workers from a broad range of industries are still being exposed to crystalline silica.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines crystalline silica as a common mineral found in the earth’s crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain it. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stone.

The agency goes on to share that respirable crystalline silica are very small particles, at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand. It is created when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Activities such as abrasive blasting with sand; sawing brick or concrete; sanding or drilling into concrete walls; grinding mortar; manufacturing brick, concrete blocks, stone countertops, or ceramic products; and cutting or crushing stone can result in worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica dust.

Crystalline silica is regulated by OSHA’s general and construction industries, 29 CFR 1910.1053, and 29 CFR 1926.1153, respectively. These standards require employers to limit worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica and take additional steps to protect workers. Such limitations include assessing employee exposures at certain action levels (AL) and permissible exposure limits (PEL) over the course of an 8-hour workday. In addition, these standards include employers are to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers, offer medical exams every 3 years, train workers on work operations, and recordkeeping of exposure measurements.

“Workers who inhale crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing not just silicosis,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “OSHA also warns of other serious silica-related diseases, including lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease. At CTSI, our industrial hygienists assist companies with compliance strategies to protect workers from these threats. Services include air testing, monitoring, engineering controls, record keeping, respiratory mask fit testing, and employee hazard communication training. These resources also help to keep companies in regulatory compliance.”

CTSI recently sponsored an educational video about exposure risks for developing silicosis that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/a9Hn2lxrJBE

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, air quality, environmental, health, and safety resources, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com, or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail