Engineering the Silica Out of Foundries

Engineering the Silica Out of Foundries

Industrial Accessories Company - Introduction

Capabilities Our Mission The Premier EPC Provider: Bring value in service, products, and solutions to meet customer needs in industrial pollution control, pneumatic / mechanical bulk material transport, Silos and loadouts, Dryers, Product improvement, and Bulk material storage applications. Leading Service Provider: Baghouse Refurbish and Conversions, Mechanical Installation, Inspection contracts, Structural Steel Fabrication and repair, Demonstration Testing, Silica Safety planning Primary Parts Supplier: Filter Bags, Cages, Cartridges, Rotary Air Locks, Blowers, Piping and Elbows, Couplings, Valves, Fans, Automation Equipment and Much More www.iac-intl.com 3

Capabilities IAC Pulse Jet Filters Baghouses, Bin-Vents, and Filter Receivers Large Capacity, M-Pulse Process Baghouses Capacities from 500 cfm to 2 Million cfm www.iac-intl.com 4

Capabilities Patented Dryer/Cooler Rail Loadout Dust Collector OEM DSI and ACI Mercy Scrubber System Transload Facility www.iac-intl.com 5

Industrial Accessories Company - 3 Phase Action Plan

Respirable Crystalline Silica A General Understanding of the Hazards of Silica and Interpretation of OSHA s Standards www.iac-intl.com 7

Topics Covered What is Respirable Crystalline Silica? What are the health hazards associated? How can you be exposed to crystalline silica What are the basic OSHA requirements? What are employers required to do? What are employees required to do? How can you control exposures to crystalline silica? Where can you get more information? Your 3 Phase Action Plan www.iac-intl.com 8

What is Respirable Crystalline Silica? Basic Definitions: Silica - It comes in several forms which are common components of soil, sand, rock and other minerals. It makes up nearly ¼ of the earth s crust. The most common form is known as Quartz. Crystalline silica Silica that has a crystal type structure (similar to very tiny pieces of broken glass). Respirable A very small fraction of the dust that is too small to see with the naked eye. Because the dust is so small, it can be inhaled deep into the lungs without even knowing it. www.iac-intl.com 9

What are the health hazards? www.iac-intl.com 10

What are the health hazards? Although our bodies have some natural defense mechanisms, the human lungs are not designed to handle dust. Inhaling dust over long periods of time can cause significant damage to the lung tissue. The crystalline shaped structure of silica makes it even more hazardous to the lungs. www.iac-intl.com 11

What are the Health Hazards? Who is affected? About 2.3 million men and women are exposed to respirable dust containing crystalline silica in their workplaces, 2 million construction workers who drill and cut silicacontaining materials such as concrete and stone 300,000 workers in operations such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing 50,000 Miners in the US www.iac-intl.com 12

What do the OSHA Regulations Require? Respirable crystalline silica has been a known hazard since the 1930 s The very first OSHA standards were created in 1971 (as part of the Occupational Safety & Health Act) OSHA created Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL s) that were intended to be amount of a substance that an average worker could be exposed to on an average working schedule without suffering from adverse health effects. www.iac-intl.com 13

What do the OSHA Regulations Require? What s prompted new ruling on Respirable Crystalline Silica In 2013, OSHA felt these standards were outdated and that employees exposed at the previous Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) were at increased risk of developing lung diseases. OSHA first proposed to adopt a new rule in 2013 in attempt to reduce disease in America's workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. In addition, OSHA adopted additional requirements for Crystalline Silica which included separate standards for General Industry and the Construction Industry. www.iac-intl.com 14

What are Employers Required to do? What is included in OSHA s new standards? The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and the other for General Industry and Maritime. Both standards are similar and require the implementation of engineering controls and numerous ancillary measures to be put in place to prevent worker inhalation of the dust. Effectively reduces the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and includes an Action Level (AL), which is a level that requires employers and employees to take action. Requires employers to measure and evaluate workplace exposure or ensure controls are in place to lower exposures. Requires provision of certain medical examinations for exposed workers www.iac-intl.com 15

What are Employers Required to do? Written exposure control plan. The final standards require employers to develop a written exposure control plan, and the standard for construction requires a competent person be assigned to implement the plan. Regulated areas. OSHA proposed alternatives for employers to limit access to areas where exposure exceeds the PEL. These are called Regulated Areas. Engineering and other controls. Where exposures exceed the limit, certain controls become mandatory. (e.g., Use respiratory protection for certain sawing and cutting operations indoors) Medical surveillance. The proposed rule requires employers to make medical surveillance available to employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the PEL for 30 or more days per year or those who wear respiratory protection for more than 30 days/year www.iac-intl.com 16

What are Employers Required to do? Medical surveillance. The regulation requires employers to make medical surveillance available to employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the PEL for 30 or more days per year or those who wear respiratory protection for more than 30 days/year Employers are required to obtain a written medical opinion for the medical examinations provided for under the standards and a statement that the examination met the requirements of the standard; and any recommended limitations on the employee s use of respirators. www.iac-intl.com 17

What are Employers Required to do? The new rule effectively (cut in half) the previous permissible exposure limit (PEL) on crystalline silica dust in general industry and nearly (reduced 3 fold) for construction. Reducing it to 50 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), timeweighted average proposed an action level of 25 µg/m3 which will trigger certain regulatory requirements. Exposure occurs during many different construction activities. The most severe exposures generally occur during abrasive blasting with sandto remove paint and rust from bridges, tanks,concrete structures, and other surfaces. Other construction activities that may result in severeexposure include: jack hammering, rock/well drilling, concrete mixing, concrete drilling, brick and concrete block cutting and sawing. www.iac-intl.com 18

What are Employers Required to do? Measure, assess and document actual and potential exposures Require written plans (additional documentation) Require implementation of respiratory protection Require additional and/or more comprehensive medical monitoring Require posting and restriction of access to certain areas where levels can exceed the PEL. Require implementation of certain controls on equipment (e.g. wet sawing) www.iac-intl.com 19

What are Employers Required to do? Be educated. Understand where and what types of work can cause exposure to respirable crystalline silica and how you can reduce or prevent exposure. Use controls to reduce dust such as wet sawing or using equipment that does not create dust. Wear proper respiratory protection where dust levels are high. Paper dust masks are not considered proper respiratory protection. Do not wear a beard or moustache that affects the seal of the respirator. Take personal care of your respirator to ensure it s working effectively. Do not smoke, eat or drink in Regulated Areas Participate in Medical Surveillance and provide opinions to the employer on ways to limit exposure. www.iac-intl.com 20

What are the Methods to Control Exposure? The proposed standard provides flexible alternatives, especially useful for small employers. Employers can choose to measure their workers' exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best in their workplaces. Alternately, employers can simply use a control method laid out in Table 1 of the proposed construction standard. Employers who fully and properly implement the exposure control methods for tasks listed on Table 1 of the standard are not subject to the PEL, and are not required to assess worker exposures to silica or to comply with other provisions of the standard on use of engineering and work practice controls. www.iac-intl.com 21

Where can I go to get more information? https://www.osha.gov/silica/table1sect1926. 1153.pdf https://www.osha.gov/silica www.iac-intl.com 22

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Some sources of Silica Exposure? www.iac-intl.com 24

Some sources of Silica Exposure? www.iac-intl.com 25

Example of Poor Hooding Example of Poor Ducting www.iac-intl.com 26

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THANK YOU INDUSTRIAL ACCESSORIES COMPANY 4800 Lamar Avenue Mission, KS 66202 800.334.7431 www.iac-intl.com