Assessing Silica Exposure for Ironworkers

Summary

Nothing about being an Ironworker automatically brings to mind concerns with silica dust, silica exposure, or silicosis. However, it’s worth consideration given the recent release of the new OSHA silica standard 1926.1153, which became effective June 23, 2016. The construction industry has one year to comply with the new standard.

New exposure levels means that every trade on the job must now evaluate if what they’re doing is safe for their employees. It’s true that Ironworkers are not typically creating dust on the job by cutting block, grinding cement, or digging holes. However, consider the welder, rigger, decker, or connector who may be performing tasks such as setting a wall anchor in concrete. Or what about chipping out concrete to repair the anchor bolts? These tasks disturb the concrete and create dust, potentially exposing Ironworkers to the silica hazard.

Per the standard, each employer must do an exposure assessment.

i) General. The employer shall assess the exposure of each employee who is or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section.

Other key provisions

• Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift.
• Requires employers to: use engineering controls (such as water or ventilation) to limit worker exposure to the PEL; provide respirators when engineering controls cannot adequately limit exposure; limit worker access to high exposure areas; develop a written exposure control plan, offer medical exams to highly exposed workers, and train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposures.
• Provides medical exams to monitor highly exposed workers and gives them information about their lung health.
• Provides flexibility to help employers — especially small businesses — protect workers from silica exposure.

For steel erectors, the bigger concern is what other trades and contractors around them are doing that may be causing dust, such as being downwind from a mason performing block cutting. Ironworkers are often first on the job and remain through construction, putting them at the mercy of those working near them. You could be cited as an Exposing Contractor for failing to properly protect your employees, even if you’re not responsible for creating the hazard. 

Best Practices

• Complete a thorough initial assessment of the work place by compiling a list of tasks that have the potential to expose workers to silica. Prioritize the list according to frequency.
• Consult an industrial hygienist and begin monitoring employees as they conduct those tasks, starting with the most frequently occurring tasks. It may help to refer to Job Hazard Analysis reports already in place to identify the predictable tasks.
• After the assessment, your company may be able to discontinue monitoring all together, you may need to do additional monitoring, or you may need to determine a way to protect your employees. If readings are above the action level and your employees are exposed to a level above the permissible exposure limits, then you need to change the way the task is accomplished or provide proper PPE. 
• If the levels are determined to be below the action level, then you can supply this information as part of your bid package to General Contractors. This may give you an advantage over other companies or trades who are not as proactive. It also protects you if future cases of employee illness are brought upon companies from a project.
• Educate employee about silica hazards so they can recognize when they may be exposed. Provide training on proper protection.

Help educate others and prevent injuries
This Safety Flash was contributed by Dax Biederman, CHST, MSC Safety Solutions in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies, and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations.

Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash with the Near Miss/Incident Investigation Report form. Submit to executivedirector@seaa.net.