Estimation of the Number of Workers Exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica by Industry: Analysis of OSHA Compliance Data (1979–2015)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Doney BC ; Hale, Janet M. ; Miller, William E. ; Syamlal G
• Description:
  Background: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can potentially cause silicosis, lung cancer, and renal failure. The current study estimates the percentages of workers potentially overexposed to concentrations of RCS dust and silicosis proportional mortality rates (PMRs) by industry. Methods: Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance inspection sampling data for RCS collected during 1979 to 2015 were used to estimate percentages of workers exposed. The results were used in combination with US Census Bureau estimates to produce industry specific worker population estimates for 2014. Estimates of the numbers and percentages of workers exposed to RCS concentrations at least 1, 2, 5, and 10 times the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure limit (REL) were calculated by industry using the 2002 North American Industry Classification System. Silicosis PMRs by industry were estimated using National Center for Health Statistics multiple cause of death data. Results: RCS concentrations/workers exposed were highest in the poured concrete foundation and structure contractors; commercial and institutional building construction; and masonry contractors. Approximately 100000 workers were exposed above the RCS REL, and most (79%) worked in the construction industry. Tile and terrazzo contractors (12%); brick, stone, and related construction merchant wholesalers (10%); masonry contractors (6%) and poured concrete foundation and structure contractors (6%) were the highest percentages of workers potentially overexposed. PMRs were highest for the structural clay product manufacturing and the foundries industries. Conclusion: Percentages of workers exposed to RCS varied by industry and in some industries workers are exposed over 10 times the REL. Exposures can be reduced below the REL by implementing the hierarchy of controls. Corrigendum: This corrigendum is to correct the name of a data source and the citation (15) for that data source. The acknowledgement and disclaimer sections were also modified. Abstract: Page 465 line 13: The methods section of the abstract should read: Estimates of the numbers and percentages of workers exposed to RCS concentrations at least 1, 2, 5, and 10 times the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure limit (REL) were calculated by industry using the 2002 North American Industry Classification System. Silicosis PMRs by industry were estimated using the National Vital Statistics multiple-cause-of-death data extracted from the National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System (NORMS). Section 2.3 First sentence, Silicosis mortality estimates, should read: National Vital Statistics multiple-cause-of-death data extracted from the NORMS were used to access the number of silicosis deaths and PMRs by industry. Table 5 Note, should read: Note: https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/guidance/code-lists.html. Underlying cause-of-death for the total number of decedents with any mention of any of the following respiratory conditions coded on the record axis: Silicosis (ICD-10 code J62.8). PMRs calculated for industries with five or more reported deaths, by selected states and for years 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2007?2014. The selected states include Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Acknowledgement should read: The authors thank technical reviewers at OSHA and Scott Henn and Jim Boiano at NIOSH for providing insightful comments during the manuscript development and the Vital Statistics Offices from the following states who provided industry and occupation information: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The authors report that there was no funding source for the work that resulted in the article or the preparation of the article. All authors are employees of the Federal Government and work was performed as part of their official duties. Disclaimer should read: The findings and conclusions of this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the state vital records offices which provided the data to the NORMS. Reference 15 should read: 15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. National Occupational Respiratory Mortality Surveillance (NORMS) Industry/Occupation Database. Accessed August 14, 2019. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Mortality Occupational Health Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Crystalline Silica Compliance Construction Industry Crystalline Silica Exposure Assessment Industries Masons Mortality Rates Occupations OSHA Compliance Data PMR Silica Dusts Silicosis Mortality Surveillance Worker Exposure Estimates

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  465-477
• Volume:
  63
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059222
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2020 Jun; 63(6):465-477
• Contact Point Address:
  Brent C. Doney, PhD, MPH, MS, CIH, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1000 Frederick Lane HG900.2, Morgantown, WV 26508
• Email:
  bgd8@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6aad02f44983a69f6efd18357add61f1aa0940dd03e29643622c001110ef8a34b3f3f805fe541577ac5e983849150124112662cf1eaa2beb84004c38e09cf47e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223511/cdc_223511_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 944.27 KB ]