OSHA warns of fracking sand danger

An old hazard alert is resurfacing in the oil and gas industry, one that warns the massive amounts of sand used during hydraulic fracturing may pose a health risk for workers.

The alert, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, warns of prolonged exposure to dust with high levels of breathable crystalline silica. Crystalline silica can cause lung disease or lung cancer and has been linked to other conditions such as tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney and autoimmune disease, ...