Niosh alert: Request for assistance in preventing silicosis and deaths in rock drillers
NIOSH requested assistance in preventing silicosis in workers exposed to crystalline silica (14808607) during rock drilling. The Alert contained information concerning surface mining processes, silica exposure during surface mine drilling, current exposure limits, health effects of crystalline silica exposure (including chronic silicosis, accelerated silicosis, and acute silicosis), and four case reports. The case reports described 23 cases of silicosis resulting from exposure to crystalline silica during rock drilling, including two workers who died from silicosis. Recommendations for reducing exposure included assessing the potential for worker exposure to crystalline silica during removal of overburden; air monitoring to measure worker exposures; the use of control measures such a wet drilling and exhaust ventilation; practicing good personal hygiene; wearing washable or disposable protective clothes at the worksite; using respiratory protection; providing periodic medical examinations; posting warning signs; providing workers with training; and reporting all cases of silicosis to state health departments and to OSHA and MSHA.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6736097
- Report Number(s):
- PB-93-136133/XAB; DHHS/PUB/NIOSH--92-107
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
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& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Mine Environment-- (1987-)
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR QUALITY
ANIMALS
CAVING MINING
CLOTHING
CONTROL
DISEASE RESISTANCE
DISEASES
DRILLING
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
INFORMATION NEEDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
MINERS
MINING
MONITORING
MORTALITY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
PNEUMOCONIOSES
POLLUTION CONTROL
PRIMATES
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
RECOMMENDATIONS
REMOVAL
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
ROCK DRILLING
SAFETY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND MINING
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES