Safety and Health Program- Sandblasting Program

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Sandblasting

Purpose:

It is the goal of the Company to significantly reduce employee exposure to crystalline silica, a serious health hazard that affects the respiratory system and can lead to death.

How this Chapter is Organized:

This chapter is organized in five parts.

Part I provides a description of silica.

Part II covers the various work activities that employees perform where their exposures to respirable crystalline silica may exceed permissible limits.

Part III describes the health hazards associated with crystalline silica exposures.

Part IV discusses how to prevent or reduce exposures to crystalline silica.

Part V addresses standards that may be cited as part of crystalline silica enforcement.

Part VI addresses company policy regarding employee training

Part VII addresses medical surveillance

Company Commitment:

The issue of preventing silicosis and deaths caused by work-related crystalline silica exposure is important to the Company. By initiating a special emphasis program to prevent or reduce crystalline silica exposures in certain industries, the Company has shown an interest in addressing and eliminating the cause of crystalline silica-related respiratory diseases that can lead to death.

Consultative Services Available:

To help eliminate or reduce worker exposure to crystalline silica, OSHA health consultants are available to assist private and public sector employers and employees in the recognition and control of the inhalation health hazard created when workers are exposed to crystalline silica.

Part 1:

Silica is a one of several chemicals included in the larger classification of silicon dioxide (SiO2 ). Silicon dioxide is a chemical compound that includes crystalline silica (sand, quartz), amorphous silica (noncrystalline), and silicates (aluminum silicate). Crystalline silica is the basic component of sand, quartz, and granite rock. This form of silica is obtained from the earth's crust through mining. Crystalline silica can be processed into other materials including silica flour. Silica flour is produced through the milling of crystalline silica into a fine powder.