Evaluation of an Improved Prototype Mini-Baghouse to Control the Release of Respirable Crystalline Silica from Sand Movers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander, Barbara M. ; Cauda, Emanuele G. ; Esswein, Eric J. ; Feng, H. Amy ; Gressel, Michael G. ; Heil, Graeham ; Kratzer, Jerry L. ; Miller AL
• Description:
  The OSHA final rule on respirable crystalline silica (RCS) will require hydraulic fracturing companies to implement engineering controls to limit workers' exposure to RCS. RCS is generated by pneumatic transfer of quartz-containing sand during hydraulic fracturing operations. Chronic inhalation of RCS can lead to serious disease, including silicosis and lung cancer. NIOSH research identified at least seven sources where RCS aerosols were generated at hydraulic fracturing sites. NIOSH researchers developed an engineering control to address one of the largest sources of RCS aerosol generation, RCS escaping from thief hatches on the top of sand movers. The control, the NIOSH Mini-Baghouse Retrofit Assembly (NMBRA), mounts on the thief hatches. Unlike most commercially-available engineering controls, the NMBRA has no moving parts and requires no power source. This article details the results of an evaluation of generation 3 of the NMBRA at a sand mine in Arkansas from May 19-21, 2015. During the evaluation, 168 area air samples were collected at 12 locations on and around a sand mover with and without the NMBRA installed. Analytical results for respirable dust and RCS indicated the use of the NMBRA effectively reduced concentrations of both respirable dust and RCS downwind of the thief hatches. Reductions of airborne respirable dust were estimated at 99+%; reductions in airborne RCS ranged from 98-99%. Analysis of bulk samples of the dust showed the likely presence of freshly fractured quartz, a particularly hazardous form of RCS. Use of an improved filter fabric and a larger area of filter cloth led to substantial improvements in filtration and pressures during these trials, as compared to the generation 2 NMBRA. Planned future design enhancements, including a weather cover, will increase the performance and durability of the NMBRA. Future trials are planned to evaluate the long-term operability of the technology. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Dust Engineering Environmental Monitoring Filtration Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Quartz Respiratory System Safety Silicon Dioxide

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• Keywords:
  Air Samples Air Sampling Author Keywords: Respirable Crystalline Silica Baghouse Chronic Exposure Crystalline Silica Dust Analysis Dust Exposure Dust Inhalation Dusts Employee Exposure Engineering Controls Environmental Control Equipment Equipment Design Equipment Reliability Equipment Testing Filter Fabrics Filters Fracking Hydraulic Fracturing Inhalation Occupational Exposure Oil And Gas Extraction Performance Capability Quartz Dust Respirable Dust Sampling Sand Sand And Gravel Mines

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Pennsylvania ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology ; WSD - Western States Division ; SMRD - Spokane Mining Research Division ; PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  24-37
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050521
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2018 Jan; 15(1):24-37
• Contact Point Address:
  Barbara M. Alexander, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Applied Research and Technology, 1090 Tusculum Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
• Email:
  BAlexander@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Oil and Gas Extraction ; Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:82a32beffc81fdf244647295f23a03132c38d006ea636d90b6794285f7b48a7c06b9c43d6096797a89948c00b287e79cdab696fd93dedff4d7772fa419590fe0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227577/cdc_227577_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.63 MB ]