Silica Safety Training Construction Education Foundation

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Class Introduction Name Place of employment Occupation Number of years experience Expectations for the training session

Course Overview Introduction to Silica Safety Subpart C: General Safety and Health Provisions Subpart D: Occupational Health and Environmental Control Subpart E: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment

Introduction to Silica Safety

Objectives Define and describe silica Describe the effect of silicosis Identify potentially hazardous situations involving silica exposure Identify methods for minimizing silica exposure Locate relevant information in – Subpart C – Subpart D – Subpart E

Silica

What is Silica? A group of minerals containing silicon and oxygen in chemical combination General formula SiO2 – Free silica is only SiO2 – Combined silica is SiO2 chemically combined with some other atom or molecule Free silica creates problems for humans

Types of Free Silica Crystalline free silica – Beach or bank sands – Fused silica – Cristobalite – Tridymite Quartz

Occupational Exposure in Construction Common sand Concrete and masonry products Many other ways to be exposed at a construction site (see next slide)

Silica Exposure in Construction Areas Chipping, hammering, and drilling in rock or concrete or brick Crushing, loading, hauling, and dumping of rock and concrete Abrasive blasting using silica sand or from the materials being blasted (concrete) Sawing, hammering, drilling, grinding, and/or chipping on masonry or concrete (continued)

Silica Exposure in Construction Areas Demolition of brick, concrete, or masonry Dry sweeping concrete, sand, or rock dust Trenching and excavation Tile and grout work Tunneling Metal foundries

Silica Exposure Examples

Silicosis

What Is Silicosis? Permanent lung damage Caused by breathing dust containing extremely fine particles of crystalline free silica It can be totally disabling and lead to death

Types of Silicosis Chronic silicosis: after ten or more years of exposure to crystalline silica at relatively low concentrations Accelerated silicosis: after five to ten years of exposure to high concentrations Acute silicosis: within a few weeks to four or five years after the initial exposure to the highest concentrations

Symptoms of Silicosis Initially there may be no symptoms Later there may be difficulty in breathing and cough may be present Other symptoms may include fever, weight loss, and night sweats * See a physician if you experience these symptoms and suspect that you are exposed to crystalline silica. All workers breathing crystalline silica dust should have a medical examination.

How Is Silicosis Prevented? Prevent dust from being in the air Example: a water hose used to wet dust down at the point of generation

Steps to Protect Yourself Always use the dust control system and keep it in good maintenance. When sawing concrete of masonry use saws that provide water to the blade. During rock drilling use water through the drill stem to reduce the amount of dust in the air. (continued)

Steps to Protect Yourself Use dust collection systems which are available for many types of dust generating equipment. Use local exhaust ventilation to prevent dust from being released into the air.

Steps to Protect Yourself Minimize exposures to nearby workers by using good work practices. Use abrasive containing less than 1% crystalline silica during abrasive blasting to prevent harmful quartz dust from being released into the air. Measure dust levels in the air.

Note on Respirators Should only be used until adequate dust controls are in place Should not be the primary method of protection Should be kept fit for use through continual maintenance When used, OSHA requires employers to establish a comprehensive respiratory protection program

Types of Respirators Air-supplied respirator

Types of Respirators Air-purifying respirator Cartridge respirator

Situation Requiring Respiratory Protection

Case Studies

Sandblaster Tile installer Brick mason Rock driller Tunnel worker Building renovation mason Construction sandblasters

It’s Not Just Dust 42 year old construction worker in Pennsylvania 37 year old construction worker in Ohio 49 year old construction laborer in Oklahoma 41 year old construction worker in Indiana 44 year old construction laborer in North Carolina 39 year old construction painter in Ohio

What OSHA Says

29 CFR Standards OSHA has not issued a specific performance standard for crystalline silica Crystalline silica is regulated by a number of OSHA standards

Applicable Standards Employer’s must be aware of all of the following: Safety Training and Education First Aid and Medical Attention , Sanitation (hygiene) Personal Protective Equipment Head Protection (continued)

Applicable Standards Hearing Protection Eye and Face Protection , Respiratory Protection Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts, and Mists (permissible exposure limits) Ventilation Hazard Communication

Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) The permissible exposure limits for mineral dusts—including crystalline silica—in the construction industry (29 CFR ) depends on the percent of silica in the sand.

Crystalline Silica Worker Protection Program Employer must first Implement engineering controls Implement administrative controls Then, the employer shall use Protective equipment Protective measures (e.g., respiratory protection)

Crystalline Silica Health and Safety Program

Elements of an Effective Silica Safety Program Air monitoring Personal hygiene facilities and practices Personal protective equipment Respiratory protection Medical surveillance Employee training Housekeeping

Employers Should inform and educate employees

Employers Should implement a medical surveillance program

Employees Should keep work areas clean to reduce exposure

Employees Should follow personal hygiene practices Don’t take it home!

OSHA Assessment

Current Permissible Exposure Limits Over 30 percent of OSHA-collected silica samples from 1982 through 1991 exceeded the current PEL limit The limit is derived from a calculation that takes into account the percentage of quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, and respirable dust specific to your particular worksite

Current Permissible Exposure Limits For extensive information and calculations, visit the OSHA Web site

Suggested Control Measures On-going, personal air monitoring* Dust control program Medical surveillance program/disease reporting Training and information on crystalline silica* Availability of air and medical surveillance data* (continued)

Suggested Control Measures Equipment maintenance program Respiratory protection program* Isolated personal hygiene facilities, eating facilities, and a clothing change area Record keeping (continued)

Suggested Control Measures Housekeeping program* Construction safety and health program* Regulated areas/warning signs * Required by existing OSHA standards if an overexposure to crystalline exists

Recommendations to Limit Exposures Use the appropriate respiratory protection correctly Use disposable or washable work clothing at the job site Don’t eat, drink, or smoke in silica dust hazard areas Wash hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking, or apply cosmetics

General Suggestions Provide training and information about health effects, work practices, and protective equipment Recognize where silica dust may be generated and plan ahead Use control and containment methods Routinely maintain dust control systems (continued)

General Suggestions Conduct air monitoring to measure worker exposure and ensure that controls are adequate Use adequate respiratory protection when source cannot keep silica exposures below the PEL Post warning signs

Three Current OSHA Cases New England—employer using Black Beauty to blast concrete On another construction site—workers doing abrasive blasting were exposed to up to 90% silica and were found to be 80 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) Region V-Cleveland—willful violations for silica used in abrasive blasting

OSHA Enforcement Information for Construction From 1985 through 1990, 11% of the workplace deaths due to silicosis where silicosis was identified on the death certificates was in the construction industry 26% of all OSHA sample collected in Construction for crystalline silica exceed the OSHA PEL in 1993 and 1994

OSHA Inspection Information Inspection data from Oct. 1, 1985 through Sept. 30, 1996 – Total Inspection where overexposures to crystalline silica were cited=128 – 43 of these inspections were the result of complaints – 53 of the inspections were referrals – 14 of the inspections were planned – 18 inspections were follow-up or referrals where overexposures to silica were cited again

Subpart C: General Safety and Health Provisions

Subpart C OSHA’s provisions for general safety and health—the individual standards address topics such as Training and education First aid and medical attention Sanitation PPE

Subpart D: Occupational Health and Environmental Controls

Subpart D OSHA’s provisions for occupational health and environmental controls—the individual standards address topics such as Sanitation Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists Ventilation Hazard communication

Subpart E: Personal Protective and Life-Saving Equipment

Subpart E OSHA’s standards for selection and use of personal protective and life saving equipment for Head Hearing Eye and face Repiratory

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