NIOSH/Controlling Silica Dust - Foundry Oper

                                                                      HC23

Controlling Silica Dust from Foundry Casting-Cleaning Operations

Exposure to respirable silica dust can lead to the development of silicosis, a debilitating and potentially deadly lung disease. In foundry operations, workers who clean small castings made from sand molds use various handheld chipping and grinding tools. If dust exposures are not adequately controlled, workers breathe in high concentrations of respirable silica.

Studies conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have shown that excessive concentrations of respirable silica are produced when cleaning castings made from sand molds. Use of the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system described below significantly reduced worker exposures to respirable dust by 59% to 77% for various cleaning tools. This system may keep worker exposures to respirable silica below permissible limits and eliminate the need for workers to wear respirators.

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION (LEV) SYSTEM

ILLUSTRATIONS: VENTILATED WORKSTATION WITH TURNTABLE

†U.S. Patent 5569074. For other than single use, contact NIOSH Technology Transfer Coordinator (513/841-4321)

For More Information

To obtain more free information about controlling this hazard or about other occupational safety and health issues:

— call NIOSH* at 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674), or
— visit the NIOSH Homepage on the World Wide Web at
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html

A technical report has been published: An evaluation of a local exhaust ventilation control system for a foundry casting-cleaning operation, Am Ind Hyg Assoc J (58): 354-358 (1997).

NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and recommending measures for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries. All HAZARD CONTROLS* are based on research studies that show how worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced.

Acknowledgments

The principal contributors to this publication are Michael G. Gressel, Rosmarie T. Hagedorn, and Jerome P. Flesch.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers of this HAZARD CONTROLS to make it available to all interested employers and workers.

December 1997 DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-106

Controlling Silica Dust from Foundry Casting-Cleaning Operations

†U.S. Patent 5569074. For other than single use, contact NIOSH Technology Transfer Coordinator (513/841-4321)

*NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and recommending measures for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries. All HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show how worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced.

This page was last updated: March 2, 1998

NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and recommending measures for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries. All HAZARD CONTROLS* are based on research studies that show how worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced.