Silicosis - Warnings & Information for the Silica Worker

Information for the Worker in High Silica Enviroments:

Workers should receive training [29 CFR 1926.21] that includes the following:

Information about the potential adverse health effects of silica exposure

• Material safety data sheets (MSDS) for silica, alternative abrasives, or other hazardous materials [29 CFR 1926.59]
• Instruction about obeying signs that mark the boundaries of work areas containing crystalline silica
• Information about safe handling, labeling, and storage of toxic materials
• [30 CFR 56.20012, 56.16004, 57.20012, 77.208]
• Discussion about the importance of engineering controls, personal hygiene, and work practices in reducing crystalline silica exposure
• Instruction about the use and care of appropriate protective equipment (including protective clothing and  respiratory protection)
• All workers should be properly fitted with the proper respirator. The safety expert should not only make sure that the employees understand the importance of respirator use, but make sure the employees are using them correctly and check back from time to time to insure that they are actually using them. Further safety experts should instructn the silica workers that paper dust masks do not prevent silicosis. These paper masks are not fitted and allow the worker to be exposed to free silica dust.

SILICOSIS WARNING SIGNS:

Signs should be posted to warn workers about the hazard and specify any protective equipment required (for example, respirators). The sample sign in below contains the information needed for a silica work area where respirators are required.