Silica Exposure in the Workplace: What You Need to Know

09/03/24

Workers in many jobs face risks from inhaling harmful silica dust, which can be dangerous to their health. Understanding the risks and regulations surrounding silica is essential for ensuring workplace safety.

What is Silica?

Silica, or silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral found in various forms, such as quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite. Sand and rock contain silica, which builders use in construction materials such as concrete, bricks, and tiles.

Cutting, grinding, or drilling these materials releases tiny silica particles into the air. Inhalation of these particles can lead to serious health problems.

danger sign for silica exposure

How Much Silica Dust Exposure Is Dangerous?

Exposure to respirable crystalline silica is hazardous, mainly because the dust particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can cause silicosis, a chronic lung disease, as well as other serious conditions like lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.

The danger lies in the cumulative exposure over time. Breathing in high levels of silica dust, even for a short time, can be harmful. Long-term exposure greatly raises the risk of serious health problems.

silicosis of lungs

What is the Permissible Exposure Limit for Respirable Crystalline Silica?

OSHA has established strict regulations to limit workers' exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 50 micrograms of a substance.
This is measured per cubic meter of air. The limit is averaged over an 8-hour workday.

This limit is intended to minimize the risk of silica-related diseases by controlling the concentration of silica dust in the workplace.

To ensure compliance, OSHA requires employers to implement a range of protective measures, including air monitoring, providing appropriate respiratory protection, and offering medical examinations for workers exposed to high levels of silica.

Which Activities Create a Silica Exposure Hazard?

Several occupational activities generate silica dust, putting workers at risk. These activities include:

Cutting, sawing, and drilling into concrete, brick, or stone
Grinding and polishing of masonry materials
Demolition work involving silica-containing materials
Sandblasting or abrasive blasting
Tunneling and excavation in areas with high silica content
Handling and transporting silica-containing materials like sand or rock

Workers engaged in these tasks are particularly vulnerable to silica exposure, especially if proper safety measures are not in place.

Importance of Regular Spirometry Testing for Exposed Workers

Workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica should undergo regular spirometry testing as part of their medical surveillance program. Spirometry is a test that measures lung function. It does this by measuring how much air a person can breathe in and out, as well as how quickly they can do so.

OSHA requires employers to offer medical surveillance, including spirometry testing, to workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air (25 µg/m³) for 30 or more days per year. This program checks workers' health regularly and quickly deals with any problems caused by exposure to silica.

Silica exposure in occupational settings is a significant health hazard that requires careful management. Regular spirometry testing is a crucial component of this protection, enabling early detection of lung damage and ensuring long-term health monitoring for exposed workers.

e3 Diagnostics offers year-round NIOSH approved spirometry courses, making it easy and affordable to keep your team compliant and skilled.

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Other Good Reads: A Beginners Guide to Spirometry Testing

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