SILICA EXPOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAM

Transcription

1 SILICA EXPOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAM A. BEFORE ANY EMPLOYEE GRINDS OR SAW CUTS CONCRETE AND WEARS A RESPIRATOR HE OR SHE MUST HAVE: 1. A medical examination, medical and occupational history to collect data on crystalline silica exposure and signs and symptoms of respiratory disease. 2. A fitted respirator that meets the NIOSH REL for crystalline silica. B. TRAINING Workers should receive safety training and education that includes the following: 1. Information about the potential health effects of exposure to respirable crystalline silica. 2. Material safety data sheets for silica, masonry products, alternative abrasives, and other hazardous materials (29 CFR ). 3. Instruction about the purpose and set-up of regulated areas marking the boundaries of work areas containing crystalline silica. 4. Discussion about the important of substitution, engineering controls, work practices, and personal hygiene in reducing crystalline silica exposure. Cutting using wet methods. 5. Instructions about the use and care of appropriate protective equipment (including protective clothing and respiratory protection). Page: 1

2 A. DEFINITIONS The above program is to protect our employees and others from the hazards associated with possible exposure to crystalline silica dust. WHAT IS CRYSTALLINE SILICA (QUARTZ)? The terms crystalline silica and quartz refer to the same thing. They are both natural components of the earth s surface and are abundant in materials such as sand, quartz and granite rock. HAZARDS FROM EXPOSURE Occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust is known to cause silicosis, pneumoconiosis, any other diseases of the lungs. The particles that cause the damage are too small to be seen with the naked eye. WHAT IS SILICOSIS? Silicosis is a disease of the lungs caused by breathing dust containing crystalline silica particles. This dust can cause fibrosis or scar tissue formations in the lungs that reduce the lungs ability to effectively extract oxygen from the air. There is no cure for silicosis. Prevention is the only answer. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SILICOSIS? There are several stages of silicosis. Early stages may go completely unnoticed. Continued exposure may result in shortness of breath while exercising, possible fever and occasional bluish skin at the ear lobes or lips. Silicosis makes a person more susceptible to infectious diseases of the lungs like tuberculosis. Progression of the disease leads to fatigue, extreme shortness of breath, loss of appetite, pain in the chest area, and respiratory failure, which all may lead eventually to death. Acute silicosis may develop after short periods of exposure. Chronic silicosis usually occurs after 10 or more years of exposure to lower levels of quartz. B. POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSURE DURING CONSTRUCTION Concrete and masonry products contain silica sand and rock containing silica. Since these products are primary materials for construction, construction workers may be easily exposed to respirable crystalline silica during activities such as the following: 1. Sawing, hammering, drilling, grinding, and chipping of concrete or masonry. 2. Abrasive blasting of concrete (regardless of abrasive used). 3. Demolition of concrete and masonry structures. 4. Dry sweeping or pressurized air blowing of concrete, rock or sand dust. Even material containing small amounts of crystalline silica may hazardous if they are used in ways that produce high dust concentrations. Page: 2

3 C. PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS: This company recommends the following measure to reduce exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the workplace and to prevent silicosis and deaths in construction workers: 1. Recognize when silica dust may be generated and plan ahead to eliminate or control the dust at the source. Awareness and planning are keys to prevention of silicosis. 2. Do not use silica sand or other substances containing more than 1% crystalline silica as abrasive blasting materials. Substitute less hazardous materials. 3. Use engineering controls and containment methods such as, wet drilling, or wet sawing of silica-containing materials to control the hazard and protect adjacent workers from exposure. 4. Routinely maintain dust control systems to keep them in good working order. 5. Practice good personal hygiene to avoid unnecessary exposure to other worksite contaminants such as lead. 6. Wear disposable or washable protective clothes at the worksite. 7. Shower (if possible change into clean clothes before leaving the worksite to prevent contamination of cars, homes and other work areas.) 8. Conduct air monitoring to measure worker exposures and ensure that controls are providing adequate protection for workers. 9. Use adequate respiratory protection when source controls cannot keep silica exposures below the NIOSH REL. 10. Provide workers with training that includes information about health effects, work practices, and protective equipment for respirable crystalline silica. Page: 3

4 These recommendations are discussed briefly in the following subsections. D. DUST CONTROL The key to preventing silicosis is to keep dust out of the air. Dust controls can be as simple as a water hose to wet the dust before it becomes airborne. Use the following methods to control respirable crystalline silica: 1. When sawing concrete or masonry, use saws that provide water to the blade. 2. Use good work practices to minimize exposures and to prevent nearby workers from being exposed. For example, remove dust from equipment with a water hose rather than with compressed air. Use vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, or use wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping. 3. During concrete demolition use water to reduce dust potential, take advantage of the prevailing wind to blow dust away from employees, or use exhaust fans for dust control. Use caution to prevent all workers from airborne dust. 4. Use the dust collection systems available for many types of dustgenerating equipment. When purchasing equipment, look for dust controls. Use local exhaust ventilation to prevent dust from being released into the air. Always use the dusts control system and keep it well maintained. Do not use equipment if the dust control system is not working properly. E. PERSONAL HYGIENE The following personal hygiene practices are essential for protecting workers from respirable crystalline silica and other contaminants such as lead, particularly during abrasive-blasting operations (NIOSH 1991a): 1. Do not eat, drink, or use tobacco products in dusty areas. 2. Wash hands and face before eating, drinking, or smoking outside dusty areas. 3. Park cars where they will not be contaminated with silica and other substances such as lead. Page: 4

5 F. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Take the following steps to assure that dusty clothes do not contaminate cars, homes, or worksite outside the dusty area: 1. When necessary, change into disposable or washable work clothes at the worksite. 2. When appropriate, shower and change into clean clothes before leaving the worksite. G. AIR MONITORING Air monitoring is needed to measure worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica and to select appropriate engineering controls and respiratory protection. Perform air monitoring as needed to measure the effectiveness of controls. Collect and analyze air sample according to NIOSH Method Nos and 7602 (NIOSH 1994) or their equivalent. H. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION Use of respirators. Do not use respirators as the primal of preventing or minimizing exposures to airborne contaminants. Instead, use effective source controls such as substitution, automation, enclosed systems, local exhaust ventilation, et methods, and good work practices. Such measures should be the primary means of protecting workers. However, when source controls cannot keep exposure below the NIOSH REL, controls should be supplemented with the use of respirators. Respiratory Protection Program is to emphasize the following: 1. Periodic environmental monitoring. 2. Regular training of personnel. 3. Selection of proper NIOSH-approved respirators. 4. An evaluation of the worker s ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator. 5. Respiratory fit testing, and maintenance, inspection, cleaning, and storage of respiratory protection equipment. TYPE OF ABRASIVE-BLASTING RESPIRATORS. Type CE abrasive-blasting respirators are the only respirators suitable for use in abrasive-blasting operations. Currently, four Type CE abrasive-blasting respirators are certified by NIOSH (NIOSH 1996): Page: 5

6 1. A continuous-flow respirator with a loose-fitting hood and an assigned protection factor (APF) of A continuous-flow respirator with a tight-fitting face piece and an APF of A positive-pressure respirator with a tight-fitting, half mask face piece and an APF of 1, A pressured-demand or positive-pressure respirator with a tight-fitting full face piece and an APF of 2,000. NIOSH recommends that workers wear a Type CE, pressure-demand or positive pressure, abrasive-blasting respirator (APF of 1,000 or 2,000) during abrasiveblasting operations that involve crystalline silica. OTHER RESPIRATORS For operations other than abrasive blasting, Table 1 lists the minimum respiratory equipment required to meet the NIOSH REL for crystalline silica under given conditions. Use the most protective respirator that is feasible and consistent with the tasks to be performed. For additional information about respirator selection, consult the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic ((NIOSH 1987b). Workers should use only respirators that have been certified by NIOSH and MSHA (NIOSH 199lb) according to 30 CFR 11, or respirators certified by NIOSH according to 42 CFR 84 (effective July 10, 1995). I. MEDICAL MONITORING When exposure limits warrant medical monitoring, the examinations will include at least the following items: 1. A medical and occupational history to collect data on crystalline silica exposure and signs and symptoms of respiratory disease. 2. A chest X-ray classified according to the 1980 Intentional Labour Office (ILO) International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis (ILO 1981). 3. Pulmonary function testing (spirometry). 4. An annual evaluation for tuberculosis (ATS/CDC 1986). Page: 6