The United States’ Occupational Safety and Health and Administration and British Columbia are in the midst of a silica safety push.
In the United States OSHA, along with its sister agency the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) recently released a joint “hazard alert” for Worker Exposure to Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing.
Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a process used to “stimulate” well production in the oil and gas industry. It involves pumping large volumes of water and sand into a well at high pressure to fracture shale and other tight formations, allowing oil and gas to flow into the well.
The hazard alert indicates that NIOSH’s recent field studies show that workers may be exposed to dust with high levels of respirable crystalline silica during hydraulic fracturing.
NIOSH identified seven primary sources of silica dust exposure during hydraulic fracturing operations:
- Dust ejected from thief hatches (access ports) on top of the sand movers during refilling operations while the machines are running (hot loading).
- Dust ejected and pulsed through open side fill ports on the sand movers during refilling operations
- Dust generated by on-site vehicle traffic.
- Dust released from the transfer belt under the sand movers.
- Dust created as sand drops into, or is agitated in, the blender hopper and on transfer belts.
- Dust released from operations of transfer belts between the sand mover and the blender; and
- Dust released from the top of the end of the sand transfer belt (dragon’s tail) on sand movers.
In cooperation with oil and gas industry partners, NIOSH collected 116 full shift air samples at 11 hydraulic fracturing sites in five states (Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Texas) to determine the levels of worker exposure to silica at various jobs at the worksites. Many air samples showed silica levels for workers in and around the dust generation points above defined occupational exposure limits.
Of the 116 samples collected:
- 47% showed silica exposures greater than the calculated OSHA PEL.
- 79% showed silica exposures greater than the NIOSH REL of 0.05 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3).
- 9% of all samples showed silica exposures 10 or more times the PEL, with one sample more than 25 times the PEL.
- 31% of all samples showed silica exposures 10 or more times the REL, with one sample more than 100 times the REL.
The legal exposure limits on silica dust were set decades ago. Workplace safety experts say that limit needs to be cut in half — because otherwise, workers face an increased risk of lung cancer, silicosis and other diseases.
OSHA appeared ready to do so nearly two years ago, when the agency sent a proposal for new silica rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). However, since the initial submission there has been no further action.
In British Columbia a new construction safety rule for silicawas recently proposed.
Among the industry groups who formally requested a standard: the BC Construction Association(which represents 2,500 companies) and the Council of Construction Associations.
The proposed amendments would modify existing Rock Dust provisions, adding the following new sections to address silica exposure in the workplace:
- definitions,
- assessment of risk to health created by work involving exposure to dust containing respirable crystalline silica,
- prevention or control of exposure,
- use of control measures,
- maintenance, examination and testing of control measures,
- monitoring exposure at the workplace,
- instruction and training for persons who may be exposed, and
- emergency procedures.
The actions of both agencies point toward a swing in the focus put on silica as a occupational hazard. Employers whose employees are exposed to silica dust should be mindful to ensure their employees have proper training and PPE to protect themselves.
If you need help with silica training call 877-201-8923.