Silica Special Emphasis ProgramSEP

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SilicaSpecial Emphasis Program(SEP)

• OSHAs Industrial Hygiene initiative
• Collaboration of OSHA Compliance and Consultation
  Programs

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Why Target Crystalline Silica Exposure?

• Widespread occurrence and use
• Number of related deaths
• Number of exposed workers
• Health effects

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Occurrence and Use

• SiO2 - basic component of sand, quartz granite
  
• Quartz - 2nd most common mineral in the earths
  crust
• Airborne silica is produced by

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Industries

• electronics
• foundries
• ceramics, clay, pottery, stone, and glass
• construction
• agriculture
• maritime

• railroad
• slate and flint quarrying and crushing
• use and manufacture of abrasives
• mining

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Occurrence and Use

• Airborne silica is produced by
• sandblasting
• rock drilling
• foundry work
• stone cutting
• drilling
• quarrying

• tunneling jack hammering
• concrete manufacturing
• demolition
• asphalt pavement manufacturing

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General Industry Targeting

• Focused to particular establishments where
  overexposures to crystalline silica are most
  likely or known.
• Records review
• Silicosis diagnosis may include
• pneumoconiosis, fibrosis, respiratory disease,
  non- malignant respiratory disease, congenital
  heart failure

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Permissible Exposure Limit(PEL)
10 mg/m3 Quartz 2
? mg/m3
PEL for respirable dust containing a silica.
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Respiratory Protection

• up to 0.25mg/m3
• up to 0.50 mg/m3
• up to 1.25 mg/m3
• up to 2.5 mg/m3
• up to 50 mg/m3

• dust respirator
• dust/mist,SAR, SCBA, no single use or quarter
  mask
• PAPR, SAR
• APR w/HEPA, tight- PAPR w/HEPA, full face SAR or
  SCBA
• SAR pressure demand

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Silicosis Prevention Program

• Medical surveillance program
• baseline examination
• medical and occupational history
• prior to exposure
• every 5 years if lt 20 years of exposure
• every 2 years if gt 20 years of exposure
• baseline chest x-ray
• pulmonary function tests (PFT)
• x-ray upon termination of employment

Source OSHA SEP
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Silicosis Prevention Program

• Personal air monitoring program
• Training and information on crystalline silica
• Availability of air and medical surveillance data
  to workers
• Respiratory protection program

Source OSHA SEP
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Silicosis Prevention Program

• Hygiene facilities and clothing change areas
• Recordkeeping
• Personal exposures below the PEL OR facility has
  an abatement program that provides interim worker
  protection
• Housekeeping program
• Regulated areas

Source OSHA SEP
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Prevention of Silica Related Diseases

• 250 Worker deaths per year
• Silicosis
• Silicosis/TB
• Lung Cancer

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Health Effects

• Acute - intense crystalline silica exposure
• acute silicosis (silico-proteinosis)
• inflammation in the gas exchange area of the lung
• fibrosis

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Health Effects

• Accelerated - more intense exposure over 5 to 15
  years
• silicosis
• smaller fibrotic nodules
• massive fibrosis in the mid-zones of the lungs
• shortness of breath
• fever
• bluish skin at ear lobes or lips

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Health Effects

• Chronic - 20 to 45 years prolonged exposure to
  crystalline silica
• silicosis
• nodular lesions in upper lobes
• shortness of breath with exertion
• cough and expectoration
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• chest pain (airway obstruction)
• x-ray
  (after 15-20 years)

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Common Hazard

• Abrasive Blasting
• Paint Removal
• Renovation Demolition
• Road Repair

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Exposure Controls Substitution

• Coal slag (black beauty)
• Steel grit
• Aluminum oxide
• Wild stuff (frozen co2, walnut shells, baking
  soda)

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Exposure ControlsWet Methods

• Water suppression of dust
• Very effective method
• May be less efficient
• Requires supply of water and clean up

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Exposure Controls

• Power tools with HEPA exhaust