Publication of NIOSH Alerts: Requests for Assistance
in Preventing Silicosis and Deaths from Silicosis
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) periodically issues alerts on workplace
hazards that have caused death, serious injury, or
illness to workers. Two such alerts were recently
released and are available to the public *: Request for
Assistance in Preventing Silicosis and Deaths from
Sandblasting (1) and Request for Assistance in Preventing
Silicosis and Deaths in Rock Drillers (2).
Silicosis and Deaths from Sandblasting
This alert describes 99 cases of silicosis -- a
serious and potentially fatal respiratory disease
characterized by fibrotic nodules and scarring in the
lungs -- from exposure to crystalline silica during
sandblasting. Of these 99 workers, 14 have died from the
disease. This alert provides recommendations to reduce
crystalline silica exposures in the workplace and to
prevent silicosis and silicosis-related deaths.
This publication also informs sandblasters and their
coworkers and employers about the respiratory hazards
associated with sandblasting. More than 1 million U.S.
workers are estimated to be at risk for developing
silicosis. More than 100,000 workers at risk are employed
as sandblasters. Approximately 59,000 of the 1 million
workers exposed to crystalline silica will eventually
develop silicosis.
Request for Assistance in Preventing Silicosis and Deaths
in Rock Drillers
This alert describes 23 workers who developed
silicosis from exposure to crystalline silica during rock
drilling. Two of these workers have died from the
disease. This report reviews exposure limits for
crystalline silica at surface and underground mines and
provides recommendations to reduce crystalline silica
exposures in the workplace and to prevent silicosis and
silicosis-related deaths.
Exposure to crystalline silica during rock drilling
can cause silicosis. Silicosis has been recognized in
rock drillers employed in caisson construction, metal
mining, slate quarries, tunnel construction, highway and
dam construction, rock quarries, and underground coal
mines (e.g., roof bolters). In addition, surface coal
mine drilling presents a serious respiratory hazard to
drillers and driller helpers; most of the recent case
reports on silicosis in rock drillers involve surface
coal mine drillers.
References
NIOSH. NIOSH alert: request for assistance in
preventing silicosis and deaths from sandblasting.
Cincinnati: US Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, CDC, NIOSH, 1992; DHHS publication
no. (NIOSH)92-102.
NIOSH. NIOSH alert: request for assistance in
preventing silicosis and deaths in rock drillers.
Cincinnati: US Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, CDC, NIOSH, 1992; DHHS publication
no. (NIOSH)92-107.
Single copies of these documents are available without
charge from the Information Dissemination Section,
Division of Standards Development and Technology
Transfer, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH
45226; telephone (513) 533-8287 (1:00-4:30 p.m., Eastern
time); fax (513) 533-8573.
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