Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program1 Silicosis Prevention Introduction to OSHA’s Special Emphasis Program

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program2 Silica Special Emphasis Program u Began in 1997 u Part of OSHA current Strategic Plan (through 2008) u Compliance Enforcement u Consultation u Training and Outreach –OSHA Web-site u Standard Development and Stakeholders Meetings Currently in Progress

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program3 Why Target Crystalline Silica Exposure? u 1. Toxicity is well documented u 2. Widespread worker overexposure u 3. Exposures can be controlled

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program4 Case Study, 1930’s: Hawk’s Nest Tunnel u Gauley Mt., W. VA. u 1930 – 1935 u Estimated Deaths from Silicosis: –500 to 750

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program5 Progress made: Exposures in the 21 st Century

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Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program11 What is Silica? u Composes 15% of Earth’s Crust u 1. Crystalline Silica (regulated) –has a diagnostic X-ray diffraction pattern u 2. Amorphous Silica (not regulated) –“without form” –cannot distinguish by X-ray diffraction –Glass is common example

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program12 Crystalline Silica u Examples: –Sand, Granite, other “Hard” rocks u Quartz, most common u Cristobalite, Tridymite vMuch less common, but more toxic than quartz

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program13 Potential Silica Exposures u Foundries u Ceramics Industry u Abrasive Blasting u Construction u Manufacturing of cleaning agents u Mining Operations u Use of Coal (e.g., electric power generation)

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program14 Silica and Mortality u 250 Worker deaths per year from Silica –(Compare to 175 deaths/yr from trenching accidents) u Silicosis u Tuberculosis u Heart Disease u Lung Cancer? –Suspect Hum. Carcinogen –A2 (ACGIH)

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program15 Health Effects u Chronic-Obstructive Pulmonary (Lung) Disease--COPD u Affects Aveolar Surface –Decreases Elasticity –Prevents Oxygen/CO2 Exchange

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program17 Silicosis Diagnosis u Requires Chest X-ray u X-ray must be read by qualified “B- Reader” u Silica Nodules are Non-Reversible

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program19 Disease Classes of Silicosis u 1. Acute Silicosis (Highest Exp.) –Latency of weeks to 5 years u 2. Accelerated Silicosis (High Exp.) –Latency of 5 to 15 years u 3. Chronic Silicosis (Moderate Exp.) –Latency >15 years

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program20 Silicosis: Non-Curable Disease u Prevention through Safe Workpractice is critical

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program21 Silicosis Prevention Program u Engineering Control of Dust u Training on crystalline silica u Respiratory protection program u Work clothes, change and wash area

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program22 Silicosis Prevention Program u Air monitoring program u Medical surveillance u Housekeeping and Regulated Areas u Recordkeeping

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