OSHA, silica containment & the bottom line.
Obviously,
the bottom line is your health and your employee’s health. But, there is also the financial bottom line
to think about. If you get a visit from
your friendly OSHA inspector and they find one “serious” violation the fine
they can levy on you is $12,934 (as of Jan. 2, 2018). If you fail to fix it, you’re looking at
$12,934 PER DAY beyond the date they gave you to have the violation fixed. If you decide to blow it off, you’re now
looking at $129,336. If you have more
than one violation, feel free to add these amounts PER VIOLATION.
Why
is OSHA adamant about this? Well,
they’re trying to curb the incidents of silicosis, “an incurable, progressively
disabling and sometimes fatal lung disease.”
Silicosis is a permanent condition caused by silica dust particles when
they become trapped in the lung tissue.
Over time they cause inflammation and scarring, and those two things
limit the ability of the lungs to take in oxygen. It also puts you and your employees at a
increased risk for diseases like lung cancer, COPD and kidney disease.
While
finished stone products, engineered or natural aren’t hazardous, it’s the
processes of cutting, grinding, polishing, etc., that creates the potentially
dangerous exposure. Engineered stone
countertops can contain over 90% silica where calcium-based stones contain
little or no silica. Granite can contain
up to 50% silica.
What
can you do as a stone fabricator? The
first thing to do is to become familiar with the types of stone you’re working
with and then the type of work you are doing with those materials. Then download and look at OSHA’s
Table 1 Specified Control Methods When Working With Materials Containing
Crystalline Silica. This is a very helpful piece
that will help you identify the methods required to control, contain and
diminish silica exposure.
Some
key takeaways are:
·
Make sure your saws have a
bespoke integrated water-delivery system.
·
If you’re drilling, most tool
manufacturers have inexpensive shrouds that are designed for the drill that
will encapsulate the bit around the work area and provide a way to contain and
remove the dust generated.
·
Get a Table 1 compliant
HEPA-rated vacuum
·
Control the amount of time you
or your employees are working in a silica-rich environment – plan for less the
4 hours per shift.
·
Have APF-10 respirators on site
(refer to Table 1)
·
Establish, write and implement
an exposure control plan. – include:
o
Designating someone competent
to implement this plan
o
Offering medical exams
(including chest x-rays and lung function tests) every 3 yrs for workers who must
wear a respirator for 30+ days a year.
o
Train workers on how to limit
exposure and what exposure to silica can do.
o
Keep records of the exposure
the workers have to silica and their medical exams, if any, are provided.
·
Don’t use compressed air or dry
sweeping in non-ventilated areas.
OSHA
is actively out in the field inspecting shops across the country. If you’re a member of the Stone Fabricator’s
Alliance, you may have seen some of your colleagues tell about how they
recently have had a visit from OSHA.
The compliance deadline was June 23, 2017 for the construction industry. For general industry and maritime the deadline is June 23, 2018. Hydraulic manufacturing is supposed to be compliant by June 23, 2018, but they have until June 23, 2021 for engineering controls.
DeFusco
Industrial Supply has many of the tools and accessories you need to get into
compliance from dust collection booths (wet and dry), disposable N95 facemasks,
and HEPA wet/dry vacuums. Call us at
800-289-6834 if you have questions or would like to know about pricing and
financing options.
DUST COLLECTION BOOTHS
10
FT Automatic Dry Dust Collection Booth 3 Meter
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Project 10 FT 3 Meter Water Wall Wet Dust Collection Booth
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Project 13 FT 4 Meter Water Wall Wet Dust Collection Booth
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Project 13 FT Automatic Dry Dust Collection Booth
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Project 6 FT 2 Meter Water Wall Wet Dust Collection Booth
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Project 6 FT Automatic Dry Dust Collection Booth
ASR35 ACP All-Purpose Metabo Vacuum
N95 Particulate Facemasks/Respirators
This
is by no means a comprehensive list of what is required or what you need to do,
nor should it be considered a substitute for anything provided by OSHA. Do your own due diligence to protect you,
your workers and your business.
References:
Natural
Stone Institute (formerly the Marble Institute of America)
National Electrical
Contractors Association
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