PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica Awareness

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica • Every year, over 1 million workers are exposed to

silica dust • Over 250 workers die from silica inhalation every

year • Hundreds more are severely disabled

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica • Silica is the mineral silicon dioxide (SiO2) • Three types of rock contain silica

1.Quartz – Most common rock in Earth’s crust

2. Cristobalite 3. Tridymite

• When ground, these rocks produce a dust that carries silica – The finely ground dust is known as “silica flour”

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica Dust Silica dust can be found in numerous industrial operations • Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and sandblasting

– The sand used in fracking and sandblasting contains up to 99% silica

• Abrasives such as sandpaper and grinding and polishing agents

• Drilling, crushing, loading, hauling, and dumping of rock

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica Dust Silica dust can be found in numerous industrial operations • Abrasively blasting, sawing, chipping, drilling, and

grinding concrete and brick • Dry sweeping or air blowing concrete, rock or sand dust

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica Dust Silica dust can also be found in numerous materials used in the oil and gas industry • Scouring powders • Metal polishes • Paints • Rubber • Paper • Plastics • Wood fillers • Cement • Road surfacing materials • Foundry applications

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica-related Health Hazards Inhaled or ingested silica causes serious lung damage and lung disease • Travels through your airways into your lungs • Inhaled silica particles damage your lungs

– This damage causes scar tissue to develop, narrowing and eventually blocking your airways over time

• Inhaled silica particles can also damage the DNA in your cells, causing cancer

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silica-related Health Hazards Diseases linked to silica exposure include • Lung cancer • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) • Tuberculosis (TB) • Scleroderma • Renal disease • Silicosis • Autoimmune disease • Kidney disease

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silicosis Workers exposed to silica may develop silicosis, an incurable lung

disease

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A silicosis patient’s x-ray Silicosis patient’s lung Healthy lung

PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silicosis • Silicosis is a progressive, disabling, and often fatal lung

disease • Symptoms include

– Shortness of breath – Fever – Fatigue – Loss of appetite – Chest pain – Dry, nonproductive cough – Respiratory failure

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Silicosis Types of silicosis • Chronic silicosis

– Results from silica exposure over time – Usually occurs after 10 or more years of exposure to relatively low silica

concentrations • Accelerated silicosis

– Results from exposure to high concentrations of silica – Usually develops 5-10 years after exposure to very high concentrations of

silica • Acute silicosis

– Develops from exposure to highest concentrations to silica – Symptoms can develop anywhere from a few weeks later to 4-5 years after

first exposure

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Permissible Exposure Limits • NIOSH

– Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) = 0.05 mg/m3

– Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) limit ◦ IDLH = 25 mg/m3 for cristobalite and tridymite ◦ IDLH = 50 mg/m3 for quartz and Tripoli

• OSHA

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

OSHA Guidelines Employers must • Provide information and training about silica to workers • Medically monitor workers who are exposed to silica dust

levels at or above half of the PEL • Monitor silica in the air by collecting samples • Control dust exposures through engineering and safe

work practices • Provide respiratory protection to workers

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

OSHA Guidelines Employers must • Reduce employee exposure by limiting work involving

silica dust • Supply vacuums with HEPA air filters • Report all cases of silicosis to state health departments

and record cases on OSHA logs • Post warning signs to identify work areas where

respirable silica is present

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

NIOSH Recommendations • Get a medical examination before starting work and

receive a follow-up exam every three years • Conduct frequent air monitoring • Blast-clean machines and cabinets • Use wet drilling or wet sawing • Use local exhaust ventilation • When drilling rock, use water through the drill stem • When sawing concrete or masonry use saws that provide

water to the blade

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

NIOSH Recommendations • Remove dust from equipment using a water hose

rather than compressed air • Practice good personal hygiene

– Wash hands often, remove PPE after work, shower and change clothes before leaving work, etc.

• Wear disposable or washable protective clothing • Post warning signs around silica-contaminated work

areas

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Condition Minimum respiratory protection required to meet the NIOSH REL (0.05 mg/m3)

< 0.5 mg/m3* (10 x REL) Any half-mask, air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter

≤ 0.5 mg/m3* (10 x REL) Any half-mask, air-purifying respirator with a HEPA filter

≤ 1.25 mg/m3 (25 x REL) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a HEPA filter, or any supplied-air respirator (SAR) equipped with a hood or helmet and operated in a continuous-flow mode

≤ 2.5 mg/m3 (50 x REL) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a HEPA filter, or any powered, air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece and a HEPA filter

≤ 50 mg/m3 (1,000 x REL) Any SAR equipped with a half-mask and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode

≤ 100 mg/m3 (2,000 x REL) Any SAR equipped with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode (for example, a Type CE abrasive-blasting respirator operated in a positive-pressure mode)

Planned or emergency entry into environments containing unknown concentrations or concentrations >100 mg/m

3 (2,000 x REL)

Any self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipped with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode, or any SAR equipped with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary SCBA operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

Firefighting Any SCBA equipped with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode

Escape only Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a HEPA filter, or any appropriate escape-type SCBA

NIOSH Recommendations

PPT-SM-SILICA 2014

Control Methods • Workers and employers must work together to

prevent silica exposure • Remove dust by using a water hose, a vacuum, or by

wet sweeping • Explore alternatives to crystalline silica for abrasive

blasting • Wear respiratory protection

– Remain clean shaven when wearing respirators

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PPT-SM-SILICA 2014 19

Silica Awareness Quiz

January 2014 Safety Meeting

Name: Date:

INSTRUCTIONS: Sign and date this quiz sheet. Circle the letter representing the correct answer to each quiz question below.

QUIZ-SM-SILICA 2014

1. Silica is the mineral ______________.

A. silicon dioxide (SiO2) B. carbon dioxide (CO2) C. tin dioxide (SnO2) D. lead dioxide (PbO2)

2. Silica dust is released during _____________. A. hydraulic fracturing (fracking) B. sandblasting C. drilling, crushing, loading, hauling, and dumping rock D. All of the above

3. Exposure to silica may cause lung disease. A. true B. false

4. What disease is linked to silica exposure?

A. chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) B. tuberculosis (TB) C. lung cancer D. All of the above

5. Silicosis is a progressive, disabling, and curable lung disease. A. true B. false

6. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) is _________________.

A. 0.03 mg/m3 B. 0.05 mg/m3 C. 0.07 mg/m3 D. 0.09 mg/m3

7. OSHA recommends that employers medically monitor all workers who may be exposed to silica dust

levels at or above half of the permissible exposure limit (PEL). A. true B. false

8. It is solely the worker’s responsibility to protect him- or herself from silica dust. A. true B. false

9. To control dust, ________________.

A. dry sweep B. use a regular saw to saw concrete or masonry C. use vacuums with HEPA filters D. use compressed air to remove dust from equipment

10. The airborne concentration of silica determines which respiratory protection is needed. A. true B. false

Silica Awareness Answer Key

Below is the answer key for the quiz.

January 2014 Safety Meeting

KEY-SM-SILICA

2014

1. A

2. D

3. A

4. D

5. B

6. B

7. A

8. B

9. C

10. A

This is to certify that

has successfully completed thePEC Safety Meeting

Date AwardedInstructor

Silica