Elevated exposures to respirable crystalline silica among engineered stone fabrication workers in California, January 2019–February 2020. Issue 9 (28th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Surasi, Krishna; Ballen, Brittany; Weinberg, Justine L.; Materna, Barbara L.; Harrison, Robert; Cummings, Kristin J.; Heinzerling, Amy
• Is Part Of: American journal of industrial medicine. Volume 65:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 701
• Page End: 707
• Publication Date: 2022-07-28
• Subjects: engineered stone -- occupational health -- personal air sampling -- respirable crystalline silica -- silicosis; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Médecine du travail -- Périodiques; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-3586

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Workers fabricating engineered stone face high risk for exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and subsequent development of silicosis. In response, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) performed targeted enforcement inspections at engineered stone fabrication worksites. We investigated RCS exposures and employer adherence to Cal/OSHA's RCS and respiratory protection standards from these inspections to assess ongoing risk to stone fabrication workers. Methods: We extracted employee personal air sampling results from Cal/OSHA inspection files and calculated RCS exposures. Standards require that employers continue monitoring employee RCS exposures and perform medical surveillance when exposures are at or above the action level (AL; 25 μg/m 3 ); exposures above the permissible exposure limit (PEL; 50 μg/m 3 ) are prohibited. We obtained RCS and respiratory protection standard violation citations from a federal database. Results: We analyzed RCS exposures for 152 employees at 47 workplaces. Thirty‐eight (25%) employees had exposures above the PEL (median = 89.7 μg/m 3 ; range = 50.7–670.7 μg/m 3 ); 17 (11%) had exposures between the AL and PEL. Twenty‐four (51%) workplaces had ≥1 exposure above the PEL; 7 (15%) had ≥1 exposure between the AL and PEL. Thirty‐four (72%) workplaces were cited for ≥1 RCS standard violation. Twenty‐seven (57%) workplaces were cited for ≥1 respiratory protection standard violation. Conclusions: Our investigation demonstrates widespread RCS overexposure among workers and numerous employer Cal/OSHA standard violation citations. More enforcement and educational efforts could improve employer compliance with Cal/OSHA standards and inform employers and employees of the risks for RCS exposure and strategies for reducing exposure.