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Silica safety
Understanding dust sources to support healthier work practices. Exposure to silica and other respirable dust continues to be a health hazard for workers in the aggregates industry. When tracking exposure by job classification, bag machine operators and bag stackers are consistently at the top of the list of individuals exposed to dust on the job. The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) sought to understand the daily risks that workers encounter because of overexposure to silica dust. NIOSH also investigated how these workers perceived the risks and what behaviors they practiced to minimize silica dust exposure. Reducing silica exposure Minimizing sources of silica and other respirable dust is a priority in the mining industry. Willingness from mine sites to collaborate on research efforts and purchase new equipment has helped improve and develop new dust control methods. For example, NIOSH engineering technologies has been tested in cooperation with mine sites and has significantly reduced mineworkers’ exposure to respirable silica while performing job tasks through implementing new equipment and research.… Keep Reading
