How serious is Silicosis and what can we do to protect ourselves?

The life expectancy for someone with silicosis varies significantly depending on factors like the type of silicosis, the severity of the disease, the timing of diagnosis, and individual health conditions. However, studies show that individuals with chronic silicosis may live for

10-20 years after diagnosis, with some surviving beyond 33 years

. Acute and accelerated silicosis, however, can significantly shorten life expectancy, potentially to only a few years. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

·                     Chronic Silicosis:

Develops after prolonged exposure (10-20 years) and can be managed with treatment and avoidance of further exposure, allowing for a longer lifespan. 

·                     Accelerated Silicosis:

Develops after more intense exposure (5-10 years) and progresses more rapidly than chronic silicosis. 

·                     Acute Silicosis:

Develops within months or a few years after very high exposure and has the shortest life expectancy, sometimes only a few years after symptoms appear. 

·                     Survival rates:

Studies have shown that the average survival time for individuals with silicosis is around 21.5 years for stage I, 15.8 years for stage II, and 6.8 years for stage III, from the time of diagnosis. 

·                     Factors affecting life expectancy:

Age of onset, duration and intensity of silica exposure, smoking history, overall health, and the presence of other diseases can all influence how long someone lives with silicosis. 

Who Is at Risk of Developing Silicosis?

Those who work with materials that contain respirable crystalline silica without adequate protection are most at risk of developing silicosis. Furthermore, wearing and keeping dusty work clothes in the home increases exposure and risk by as much as 10%, according to one U.S. Bureau of Mines report.

The following occupations have the highest risk of exposure to unsafe respirable crystalline silica:

·                     Building construction workers

• Civil engineers

• Dentists and dental technicians

• Farmers

• Foundry workers

• Hydraulic fracturing workers

• Masonry workers

• Manufacturers of glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, concrete and quartz countertops

• Miners

• Oil and gas workers

• Quarry workers

• Road construction workers

• Rock drillers

• Sandblasters

• Stonecutters

Anyone whose job involves participating in or being around the blasting, crushing, drilling, breaking, sanding, grinding or milling of materials containing respirable crystalline silica is at risk of silicosis. Silica dust is not always visible and workers cannot count on dust visibility as a risk indicator.

E Light does not do work that typically exposes our workers to silica dust. We typically only have exposure if we are drilling into concrete or masonry products. This is a very small amount to exposure but we have implemented policies which are designed to further minimize exposure. 

They are:

1. Always use a sprayer or floor sweep compound for sweeping concrete floors

2. When possible, when drilling into concrete or masonry, spray the drill bit periodically with a squirt bottle to reduce dust. 

3. Order a dust catcher for your drill when drilling into concrete or masonry products. We have these in stock in the Titan warehouse, and you can also order them directly from the PPE order form. 

4. Also remember to wear a full face guard or goggles over your safety glasses if you are drilling into masonry or concrete overhead. 

If any other trades begin sanding, cutting or other activities that is causing a large amount of dust from concrete, stone or masonry products, stop work, and notify the Director of Education and Loss Prevention immediately and leave the area.