In my 20 years at the quarry, I almost never missed a day of work. Until this year. My wife insisted I see our family doctor when I couldn’t shake a chest cold even after a week of rest. I thought I was just going in to get treated for a cold. Nothing prepared me for how bad the news was going to be.

The Daily Grind

Every year, millions of workers risk being exposed to silica in the course of their work, with more than 100,000 of them considered high risk for exposure.

Crystalline silica is found in soil, sand, granite, and several other minerals common to our environment. It is also used in manufacturing ceramics, household abrasives, paints, and glass. Workers can breathe in silica dust particles whenever they work with materials containing crystalline silica.

The effects of silica exposure are serious, but they can take years to emerge. Individuals who have breathed in the dust are at greater risk for various lung diseases, kidney disease, and several types of cancers. In addition to primary exposure, smoking and lung infections exacerbate the damage caused by the silica dust.

One of the primary effects of silica exposure is silicosis, the formation of scar tissue and subsequent reduction of lung capacity. There are three classifications of this incurable disease:

  • Chronic or classic silicosis is the most common and will not initially present with obvious symptoms as it usually occurs after 15 to 20 years of low to moderate exposure. In early stages, someone affected by the condition may simply experience shortness of breath with exercise but as it progresses, the symptoms can turn to fatigue, chest pain, and respiratory failure.
  • Accelerated silicosis initially presents as severe shortness of breath, weakness, and weight loss. It generally occurs after 5 to 10 years of high exposure.
  • Acute silicosis can present as early as two months after extremely high exposure but may take up to two years. Symptoms are the same as accelerated silicosis but occur faster and are more intense.

Workers who believe they’ve been exposed should see a physician for a chest x-ray and pulmonary function test (PFT), and should also undergo yearly tuberculosis (TB) tests. There is no treatment for silicosis, but affected individuals should avoid further exposure and refrain from smoking which can exacerbate symptoms.

Battling for Breath

OSHA established silica regulations in the 1970s but the organization has recently reviewed and revised their standards, including their Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL). The PEL refers to the amount of crystalline silica workers may be exposed to during a standard eight hour shift. Currently, the PEL is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air – half of what it had been for the past 40 years.

OSHA’s new ruling also specifies that companies should have written exposure control plans to identify high-risk tasks and methods to protect employees, with a competent person assigned to enact the plan.

Medical exams should be offered every three years for any employees who require the use of a respirator for more than 30 days of the year. This medical surveillance allows adverse health effects to be identified early, determine whether an employee has a condition that can make them more susceptible to lung disease, and ensure an employee is fit to use a respirator on the job. It is important to understand that employers will only receive recommendations on respirator use and any important information deemed vital to the protection of the employee. Other findings from these medical exams are not made available to the employer in order to encourage compliance by employees who may otherwise fear retaliation or discrimination based on their results.

Working to Breathe Easier

The new ruling is currently in effect, though provisions have been made for certain industries and there is time to meet all standards. With this in mind, OSHA has provided tips to help employers and employees with compliance. Part of the silica regulation includes Table 1, which details common jobs and tools with suggested methods for limiting the presence and spread of silica dust. Some basic examples involve wetting down work areas and providing ventilation systems to filter out silica-containing dust.

Don’t Take My Breath Away

Crystalline silica is a common element in the Earth’s crust and a known human carcinogen. Although it is common and harmful, we have methods of limiting exposure. Considering the number of opportunities for exposure and the health implications, you have every reason to educate your employees and take proper precautions so everybody can breathe easier.