Silica Exposure at Electric Utilities EEI Safety & Health Conference Spring 2012
Crystalline Silica Summary: Crystalline silica is a significant component of the earth s crust and many workers are exposed to it. The current PEL was based upon guidance from 1971. OSHA believes that the PEL should be lowered to protect employees from developing chronic silicosis. OSHA also believes that provisions, such as engineering controls, provided by a comprehensive standard will be necessary to reduce worker exposure to crystalline silica. OSHA plans in this rulemaking to modernize the Agency s current PELs for silica so that they will be consistent across all sectors. Draft had PEL as low as 50 ug/m3. Impact: Will significantly effect activities that generate dust, concrete dust, fly ash dust and other silica containing dust. Time Table: Completed SBREFA Report - December 2003 Complete Peer Review - February 2009 Risk assessment started Mid 2009 Completed peer review December 2010 Silica is a priority, but it s an election year.. IH Session will have additional discussion on Wednesday
Silica Work Group Name Email Phone Company Data analysis Reg Review James Gartland James.gartland@duke-energy.com 704-382-5976 Duke Energy Lead Doug Jenkin Doug.jenkin@pgn.com 503-464-7289 Portland General Electric x David Friedman David.friedman@luminant.com 214-608-6405 Luminant x Lynn Wipf Lynn.wipf@westarenergy.com 785-575-6345 Westar Energy x Dee Ward dmward@southernco.com 205-257-2022 Southern Company Andrea Loper Andrea.loper@pgnmail.com 919-546-7535 Progress Energy x Henry Romero Henry.romero@fpl.com 561-691-7743 FPL x Doug Mills dfmills@tva.gov 423-322-9569 TVA x Stephen Cox Steve.cox@kcpl.com 816-414-4550 KCP&L Sharon Murnane Sharon.murnane@pseg.com 973-430-6085 PSEG x Gary Hatcher gwhatcher@aep.com 614-583-7705 AEP Lead
Potential Exposures Fly Ash Coal Sand Blasting Concrete Cement Refractory Removal / Mixing Removal of Ceramic Fiber Insulation Other
Some Sampling Results have been Received
Duration (minutes) Resp Dust ATWA Silica Source Silica Source/ Work Description 8 hr % 8-hr TWA (mg/m 3 ) TWA Company Date (mg/m 3 ) Silica (mg/m 3 ) A 06/18/1997 242 0.06 0.12 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Ash silo operating mixers A 09/26/1997 332 0.33 0.49 ND ND Fly Ash Fly Ash; Trucking fly ash from silo to ash field A 09/26/1997 142 0.08 0.27 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Trucking fly ash from silo to ash field A 09/26/1997 262 0.78 1.42 ND ND Fly Ash Fly Ash; Ash silo control room operator A 09/26/1997 273 0.07 0.13 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Dozer operator on ash field A 12/20/2000 30 0.80 12.00 5.6 0.040 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Washing reheat section of boiler with fire hose A 12/20/2000 215 ND ND NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Assisting welder with set up, oiler reheat pendant area A 02/04/2002 29 1.64 27.14 1.3 0.020 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Using pneumatic grinder on tube separator, Boiler back passeconomizer A 05/02/2003 107 0.41 1.84 ND ND Fly Ash Fly Ash; Sawing sections of boiler tubes out for tube analysis A 05/03/2003 86 ND ND NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Grinding in between boiler tubes A 11/23/2003 154 0.43 1.33 2.7 0.012 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspecting precipitator and flue gas path A 11/23/2003 149 0.28 0.89 2.3 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspecting precipitator and flue gas path A 01/27/2005 210 0.95 2.18 1.6 0.015 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Replacing wires in precipitator A 01/12/2004 91 0.27 1.42 <2.3 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspected and removed broken precipitator wires A 01/12/2004 90 0.32 1.72 <1.9 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspected and removed broken precipitator wires A 03/13/2004 53 0.07 0.66 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspected precipitator wires A 04/08/2004 62 0.71 5.50 <0.9 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspect lower precipitator hoppers, brush/wipe of insulators A 06/13/2005 210 0.07 0.15 <10.0 0.007 Fly Ash Fly Ash; pigging boiler tubes (charged with material containing 4% silica) A 06/13/2005 210 0.23 0.53 <2.8 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Pigging boiler tubes (charged with material containing 4% silica) A 10/16/2007 426 0.10 0.11 <6.3 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Trucking fly ash to ash field A 10/16/2007 425 0.66 0.74 <0.9 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Ash silo rounds-cleaning mixers, inspecting, observing A 10/17/2007 424 0.39 0.44 <1.6 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Ash Silo rounds-cleaning mixers, inspecting, observing A 10/17/2007 424 0.15 0.17 <4.2 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Trucking fly ash to ash field A 10/17/2007 424 0.06 0.07 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Dozer operator on ash field A 04/15/2008 176 1.00 2.74 <0.6 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspecting precipitator hoppers A 11/27/2008 165 0.32 0.93 <1.9 0.006 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspecting precipitators A 06/25/2008 380 0.05 0.06 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Dozer operator on ash field, hauling fly ash in truck A 06/25/2008 375 0.12 0.15 <5.0 0.010 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Ash silo rounds, cleaning mixers, inspecting and observing A 06/25/2008 380 0.19 0.25 <2.9 0.005 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Trucking fly ash to ash field A 06/25/2008 326 0.04 0.05 NT -- Fly Ash Fly Ash; Dozer operator on ash field A 03/01/2009 241 0.26 0.52 <2.4 0.012 Fly Ash Fly Ash; Inspecting/cleaning precipitator wires A 07/06/1998 223 0.70 1.60 3.5 0.025 A 07/06/1998 225 1.40 2.90 1.5 0.021 Cinder Block Cinder Block Cinder Block; demolishing wall with hammers, while applying water Cinder Block; demolishing wall with hammers, while applying water