Aug
29
2010
Pneumatic Sandblasters And Silicosis
Author: adminWhat is Pneumatic Silicosis0 Silica is a compound formed from silicon and oxygen, often found in quartz, flint, agate, beach sand, sandstone and glass. When Silica particles are inhaled, it results in the formation of scar tissue in the lungs preventing oxygen from getting in the blood. This condition eventually results in a disease called Silicosis, an incurable and progressive lung disease. Approximately 300 people die from the disease every year in the United States.
More than 1 million workers, occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust in the United States. According to World Health Organization, more than 100,000 of these workers are sandblasters. What is shocking is that they eventually will develop 59,000 silicosis.
Sandblasting and Silicosis:
In Sandblasting, compressed air or steam is used to project a stream of abrasive particles onto a surface, which commonly includes materials like silica sand. Sandblasters or workers who operate this process are continually exposed to the harmful substance while cleaning sand and irregularities from foundry castings, removing paint etc because the silica sand used in abrasive blasting normally breaks up into fine particles and becomes airborne. Since these silica particles are invisible to the naked eye, workers may not be aware of the risks they are involved in, while performing their daily tasks.
By the Occupational Safety and Health Institute, in the late 90's study, 99 cases of silicosis sandblasters were studied. In which 14 people died of the disease. The remaining 85 complications related to silicosis and mortality risk. However, the relationship between silicosis and the sand is not a recent thing. As early as 1936, a study reported that 5.4% of the UK die from silicosis or tuberculosis, silicosis, three and a half years sandblasters population.
Prevention of Silicosis for Sandblasters:
Avoid dust containing free crystalline silica inhalation is the first basic steps to prevent the people of the occupied blasting the development of silicosis. Blast clean-up operations in the use of crystalline silicon in 1950, has banned in other European countries in 1966 in the UK.
Adequate respiratory protection such as a type CE Abrasive Blasting Respirator should be used by everyone engaged in the sandblasting occupation, especially for workers adjacent to blasting operation machines.
Specular hematite, Burasutokaretto, slag, or steel shot as an abrasive for sandblasting and the courage to reduce the possibility of inhaling crystalline silica particles significantly by using alternative materials such as sand and safe.
Network-down dry materials and surfaces before working on it also reduces the chances of crystalline silica dust is in the air. Eating, drinking or smoking near blasting operations increases the chances of crystalline silica inhalation. Wash your hands before. Do not take work clothes back home, unnecessarily increases the risks of exposure to yourself and your family.
Pneumatic (air or other gas) free of crystalline silica used in related industries such as granite cutting tools, there is a tendency to release dust containing a large quantity. Must be accompanied by effective dust control system to use these tools.