Respirable Crystalline Silica Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Respirable Crystalline Silica Introduction Silica hazards in construction • Welcome to this presentation! • OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica Awareness in Construction • Intended for: • ASSE’s Construction Practice Specialty group • Construction foremen, supervisors, managers, project managers, and Safety Managers/Supervisors and Trainers so they understand the information needs of those workers with the potential for only limited exposure • Duration: 30 minutes followed by Q&A as needed TIP: OSHA has issued two standards to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica – one for construction (29 CFR 1926.1153) and general industry / maritime (29 CFR 1910.1053) Respirable Crystalline Silica Introduction Presentation objectives • By the end of this presentation, you will be able to: • Identify OSHA’s new Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard in Construction and it’s principal elements / requirements. • Explain what respirable crystalline silica is and the health hazards associated with it • Identify the types of required control measures and respiratory protection for respirable crystalline silica • Recognize employer responsibilities and employee rights under the standard on respirable crystalline silica About 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and 300,000 workers in general industry operations such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. Respirable Crystalline Silica Introduction Provisions of the standard • Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift • Requires employer compliance • Engineering controls • Respirators • Limiting worker access to high exposure areas • Written exposure control plan • Medical exams and health information • Training • Provides flexibility to help employers protect workers TIP The permissible exposure limit (PEL or OSHA PEL) is a legal limit in the United States for exposure of an employee to a chemical substance or physical agent such as loud noise. Permissible exposure limits are established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). For chemicals, the chemical regulation is usually expressed in parts per million (ppm), or in the case of respirable crystalline silica dust, micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3). Units of measure for physical agents such as noise are specific to the agent. A PEL is usually given as a time-weighted average (TWA), although some are short-term exposure limits (STEL) or ceiling limits. A TWA is the average exposure over a specified period of time, usually a nominal eight hours. Respirable Crystalline Silica Introduction OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica rule • 29 CFR 1926.1153 • Applies to “all occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica in construction work, except where employee exposure will remain below 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air (25 μg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) under any foreseeable conditions.” • 25 μg/m3 is the Action Level for respirable crystalline silica in air. TIP Evaluating silica dust in the air requires air monitoring. The purpose of air monitoring is to identify and quantify airborne contaminants in order to determine the level of worker protection needed. Two principal approaches are available for identifying and/or quantifying airborne contaminants: • The onsite use of direct-reading instruments. • Laboratory analysis of air samples obtained by gas sampling bag, filter, sorbent, or wet contaminant collection methods. Respirable Crystalline Silica Introduction Schedule for construction industry • June 23, 2016 • OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standard for construction goes into effect! • June 23, 2017 • Start of compliance obligations to this standard (except methods of sample analysis) • June 23, 2018 • Start of requirements for sample analysis methods Respirable Crystalline Silica What are Silica Hazards? What is crystalline silica? • Crystalline silica • A basic component of soil, sand, granite, and many other minerals. • Quartz is the most common form of crystalline silica • Cristobalite and tridymite are two other forms of crystalline silica • “Respirable” crystalline silica • Quartz, cristobalite, and/or tridymite contained in airborne particles that are determined to be respirable (breathable) by a compliant sampling device • Crystalline silica can become respirable size particles from worker activities such as: • Chipping • Cutting • Drilling • Grinding What does “respirable” mean? Inhalable particulate dust is that fraction of a dust cloud that can be breathed into the nose or mouth. Respirable Crystalline Silica What are Silica Hazards? Silica-related diseases • Limiting workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica to prevent/minimize: • Lung cancer • Silicosis • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • Kidney disease The U.S. Department of Labor first highlighted the hazards of respirable crystalline silica in the 1930s, after a wave of worker deaths. Current standards are outdated and do not adequately protect workers from silica-related diseases. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAByIIzQSuU TIP Respirable Crystalline Silica What are Silica Hazards? Silicosis • The formation of scar tissue in the lungs • Potentially disabling or fatal ailment • No cure • Also makes those with silicosis more susceptible to lung infections like TB • Smoking adds to the damage of silicosis Respirable Crystalline Silica What are Silica Hazards? Silicosis types and symptoms Chronic/classic silicosis Accelerated silicosis Acute silicosis • Chronic/classic silicosis • The most common type • Occurs after 15-20 years of moderate to low exposure • Symptoms, such as shortness of breath and poor oxygen intake, might not be obvious • Accelerated silicosis • Occurs after 5-10 years of high exposure • Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, and weight loss • Acute silicosis • Occurs after a few months to two years of extremely high exposure • Symptoms include disabling shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, often leading to death Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods Worksite analysis • Helps an employer determine what jobs and work stations are the sources of potential problems • Generally conducted by a “qualified person” • Measures and identifies exposures, problem tasks, and risks • Inspects, researches, or analyzes potential health hazards • Recommends appropriate corrective action if a hazardous situation is identified The pDR-1000AN monitor features a high measurement range of 0.001 to 400 mg/ m3 (auto-ranging) Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods General methods of control • Depending on the exposed worker’s task, dust exposures may be reduced in multiple ways • Dust suppression (wet methods, surfactants, etc.) • Vacuum dust collection (VDC) • Respiratory protection • Ventilated booths • Operator isolation • Fans (supplement only) • Others: speed controls of equipment, restrictions of work on windy days, working upwind, conduct silica dust producing work in off hours, minimize time of exposure, etc. TIP Later in this presentation, we will address Table 1 of the respirable crystalline silica standard, which lists the control methods that employers are required to use for common construction activities. Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods Hazardous equipment and operations • Equipment and operations that may expose workers: • Stationary and handheld masonry saws • Hand-operated grinders • Tuckpointing/mortar removal • Jackhammers, rotary hammers and similar tools • Vehicle-mounted rock drilling rigs • Drywall finishing • General housekeeping operations TIP It is important to follow equipment manufacturers’ recommendations in order to ensure that any modifications do not adversely affect equipment performance and that no additional hazards are created. Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods What is Table 1? Table 1 entitled “Specified Exposure Control Methods When Working With Materials Containing Crystalline Silica” • A flexible compliance option that protects workers. • Identifies 18 common construction tasks that generate Employers who fully and properly high exposures to respirable crystalline implement the engineering controls, work silica: practices, and respiratory protection specified for a task on Table 1 are not • for each task; required to measure respirable crystalline • specifies engineering controls; silica exposures to verify that levels are at or below the PEL for workers engaged in • work practices; and the Table 1 task. • respiratory protection that effectively protect workers. Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods Table 1 of the respirable crystalline silica standard • Provides the following information: • Engineering and work practices controls for various common construction activities • Required respiratory protection and minimum assigned protection factors (or APF) • A work practice control seen throughout Table 1 • “Operate and maintain tool in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions to minimize dust emissions” TIP: You’re going to need to document time of use. Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods Respiratory protection • Respirators are required if dust control measures are otherwise insufficient • Factors affecting respiratory protection systems: • Enclosed versus open spaces • # of operations generating silica dust • Environmental conditions, such as wind direction and speed • Percentage of silica found in materials • When respirators are required, employer must have a written respiratory protection program compliant w/ 1926. Employees working near operations where silica dust is generated may need respiratory protection even if they themselves are not performing a task that exposes them to respirable crystalline silica. TIP Respirable Crystalline Silica Types of Control Methods Air Purifying Respirators (APR’s) & Assigned Protection Factor (APF’s) These are APF 25 respirators © 1999-2015 ClickSafety.com, Inc. All Rights reserved These are APF 10 respirators 1.800.971.1080 [email protected] Respirable Crystalline Silica Employer Responsibilities Employer responsibilities under the standard • Employer responsibilities under 29 CFR 1926.1153 • Engineering and work practices controls • Table 1 • Alternative exposure control methods • Respiratory protection • Housekeeping • Written exposure control plan • Medical surveillance • Communication of respirable crystalline silica hazards to employees • Recordkeeping Respirable Crystalline Silica Employer Responsibilities Housekeeping • Where such activity could contribute to employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica: • No dry sweeping or dry brushing • No using compressed air to clean clothing or surfaces unless: • Used in conjunction with a ventilation system that effectively captures the dust cloud, OR • No alternative method is feasible Respirable Crystalline Silica Employer Responsibilities Written exposure control plan • Elements of the written exposure control plan • Tasks that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica • Engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection • Housekeeping measures • Procedures used to restrict access to work areas • Review, evaluate, and (as needed) update the plan annually • Make the plan readily available to employees and others • Designate a competent person to make inspections and implement the plan TIP A “written exposure control plan” establishes the minimum procedures an employer must follow to protect employees and comply with the respirable crystalline silica standard. Employees wanting to learn more about the employers silica control practices should be able to contact their supervisor and/or safety coordinator to learn more. Respirable Crystalline Silica Employer Responsibilities Written exposure control plan • Commercial Respirable Crystalline Exposure Control Plans out there as well as universities, government sites. • Create-A-Plan to Control the Dust seem like an interesting tool. • http://plan.silica-safe.org/ • CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training, and serves as the National Construction Center for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Respirable Crystalline Silica Employer Responsibilities Medical surveillance • At no cost for each employee who will be required by the respirable crystalline silica standard to use a respirator for 30 or more days per year • Performed by a “physician or other licensed health care professional” (PLHCP) • Periodic exams: At least once every three years • Medical reports and opinions: Delivered within 30 days after the exam Respirable Crystalline Silica Employer Responsibilities Communication of hazards to employees • Hazard communication • Include respirable crystalline silica in the communication program complying with the hazard communication standard (HCS) 29 CFR 1910.1200 • Need to address cancer and other silicarelated diseases • Ensure that each employee covered by the respirable crystalline silica standard can demonstrate knowledge of the standard • Make a copy of the respirable crystalline silica standard readily available without cost to each employee covered by this standard Respirable Crystalline Silica Final Considerations Respirable Crystalline Silica Compliance Flowchart **Objective Data: Information from industrywide surveys demonstrating employee exposure to crystalline silica associated with a process, task or activity. The data must reflect workplace conditions resembling work practices and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations. Respirable Crystalline Silica Conclusion Summary • You should now be able to: • Have a better understanding of OSHA’s New Respirable Crystalline Exposure in Construction Standard • Explain what respirable crystalline silica is and the health hazards associated with it • Identify the types of control measures and respiratory protection for respirable crystalline silica • Recognize employer responsibilities and employee rights under the standard on respirable crystalline silica • A whole lot more to this standard and its general industry/maritime sister. We just scratched the surface. Respirable Crystalline Silica Conclusion References • OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard 29 CFR 1926.1153 • OSHA FactSheet – OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Rule: Construction www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3681.pdf • OSHA’s webpage for the respirable crystalline silica standard, which includes multiple other related links https://www.osha.gov/silica/index.html Have a Safe and Healthy Day! Pete Rice CIH/CSP Safety and Industrial Hygiene Programs - ClickSafety [email protected]
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