Department of Labor issues final rule reducing silica dust exposure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a final rule to better protect the nation's miners from health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica, also known as silica dust or quartz dust.. The final rule lowers the permissible exposure …

1926.1153

A medical and work history, with emphasis on: Past, present, and anticipated exposure to respirable crystalline silica, dust, and other agents affecting the respiratory system; any history of respiratory system dysfunction, including signs and symptoms of respiratory disease (e.g., shortness of breath, cough, wheezing); history of tuberculosis ...

Engineering Controls Database

Control of Silica Dust Exposure in Pottery Manufacturing. Problem: Health department surveillance data indicate the largest number of silicosis cases in the state of New Jersey exist in the sand mining and processing, foundry, and pottery (sanitary ware) industries. This disease is caused by exposure to crystalline silica in these industries.

Frequently Asked Questions

CPWR's Exposure Control Database can help you anticipate and control worker exposures to silica, welding fumes, lead, and noise. This free online tool allows users to enter a construction task, proposed controls, and other variables and obtain a predicted exposure level based on exposure data from trusted sources.

Non-occupational exposure to silica dust

Occupational exposure to silica occurs at workplaces in factories like quartz crushing facilities (silica flour milling), agate, ceramic, slate pencil, glass, stone quarries and mines, etc., Non-occupational exposure to silica dust can be from industrial ...

Preventing Silicosis & Deaths in Construction Workers

Exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust during construction activities can cause serious or fatal respiratory disease. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing silicosis and deaths in construction workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.

The Dangers of Silica Dust

Learn how silica dust can cause lung damage, cancer, and infections, and how to protect yourself from it. Find out about the proposed rule to lower silica …

Silicosis: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More

Silicosis is an occupational lung disease that occurs from inhaling silica dust. This guide includes information about symptoms, causes, treatments, and more.

Silica, Crystalline

Employers can either use the control methods laid out in Table 1 of the construction standard, or they can measure workers' exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures to the PEL in their workplaces.

Silicosis: Symptoms, Treatment and More

Silicosis is a serious chronic lung disease that triggers symptoms like cough and shortness of breath and is caused by prolonged exposure to silica dust.

Silica, Crystalline

Learn how breathing in respirable crystalline silica dust can cause serious diseases, such as silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease. Watch videos on the …

CDC

Silica, crystalline (as respirable dust) Related Pages. Synonyms & Trade Names Cristobalite, Quartz, Tridymite, Tripoli CAS No. 1 RTECS No. VV7330000. DOT ID & Guide ... Exposure Routes inhalation, skin and/or eye contact Symptoms Cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty), wheezing; decreased pulmonary function, progressive …

Safe Work Practices | Silica | CDC

What to know. Prevent respirable crystalline silica exposures and control dust when working around materials that contain crystalline silica such as concrete, mortar, granite, …

Silicosis

Find out about silicosis, a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.

Silicosis

Silica is the main constituent of more than 95% of rocks and stones. Occupational exposure to silica dust is one of the oldest known forms of lung disease, first documented by Hippocrates in 400 BC describing breathing disorders in metal diggers. In the 1600s, van Diemerbrock noted the harmful effects of inhaling granite dust.

Association between Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure and …

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (SiO[2] ) is one of the most common and serious risks because of the health consequences for the workers involved. Silicosis is a progressive, irreversible, and incurable fibrotic lung disease caused ...

Crystalline Silica Dust Information Sheet

Routes of Exposure Inhalation is the primary route of exposure to crystalline silica dust. For any kind of dust, there are different particle sizes.

Silica dust | IOSH

Anyone who works at a construction site or quarry could breathe in silica dust. We explain why this is harmful and how to manage exposure.

Silica and Worker Health | Silica | CDC

Learn about the risks of silica dust exposure, a common hazard in various industries. Find out how to prevent lung diseases caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica particles.

Crystalline Silica Dust

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust occurs in many industries including: quarrying, mining, mineral processing (e.g. drying, grinding, bagging and handling) slate working, stone crushing and dressing, foundry work, brick and tile making, some refractory processes, construction and demolition work, including work with stone ...

Deadly Dust Found In Construction | Chart Industries

To put into context the maximum daily silica exposure in comparison to a penny. How Can Silica Dust Be Prevented Or Controlled? Due-diligence is extremely important to prevent any health hazards relating to silica dust. Both the employers and the employees must fully understand what they are working with and what risks are involved.

Silicosis

The types of silicosis, which are based on the type of exposure and the effects on your lungs, include: Acute silicosis — which develops within weeks or months of exposure to very high levels of silica dust. Accelerated silicosis — due to exposure to large amounts of silica dust for less than 10 years.

What You Can Do To Help Reduce Silica Dust Hazards

How does Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust Exposure Occur? Respirable crystalline silica dust can be created when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar containing silica.

Crystalline Silica

Exposure to tiny particles of airborne silica, primarily quartz dust, occurs mainly in industrial and occupational settings. For example, workers who use handheld …

Silica dust | Cancer Council

Exposure to silica-containing materials can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Read more about reducing your exposure to silica dust here

Why are Silica Dust Exposures and Silica-Related Health …

The author examined the literature for other novel silica-related health risks. Results Current workers and their managers seem to not have sufficient awareness of the occupational hazards of silica dust. There are new silica dust concerns including fracking sand, railroad ballast, and dust control in countertop machining.

OSHA INFOSHEET

To determine silica exposure levels, your employer should collect air samples using devices that measure the amount of silica in a worker's breathing zone. This enables employers to determine ... Airborne silica dust at sand mover and transfer system. How can worker exposures to silica in the air be reduced?

OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for …

crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. Employers can either use a control method laid out in Table 1 of the construction standard, or they can measure workers' exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures in their workplaces to the permissible exposure limit (PEL).

Silica Dust Fact Sheet | Environmental Health and Safety

Silica dust exposure is commonly seen in industries that perform sandblasting, jackhammering, foundry work, glass manufacturing, concrete cutting, and other abrasive work. What are the hazards of silica exposure?

Learn About Silicosis | American Lung Association

When people breathe silica dust, they inhale tiny particles of the mineral silica. Over time, the silica dust particles can cause lung inflammation that leads to the formation of lung nodules and scarring in the lungs called pulmonary fibrosis. This is a progressive disease that normally takes 10–30 years after first exposure to develop.