Reducing Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica Near Conveyors Using a Hybrid Dust Control System.

Occupational exposures to respirable dusts and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is well established as a health hazard in many industries including mining, construction, and oil and gas extraction. The U.S.

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica among US metal and nonmetal miners, 2000-2019.

Background: In metal and nonmetal (M/NM) mines in the United States, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposures are a recognized health hazard and a leading indicator of respiratory disease. This study describes hazardous exposures that exceed occupational exposure limits and examines patterns of hazardous RCS exposure over time among M/NM miners to better inform the need for interventions.

Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Open Government Initiative Portal for the years 2000-2019, examining respirable dust samples with MSHA-measured quartz concentration >1%.