Deaths from Silica in the Workplace

The first column is the occupational title. The second column (PMR) is the observed number of deaths from silicosis per occupation divided by the expected number of deaths.   Therefore, a value of one indicates no additional risk.  A value of ten would indicate a risk ten times greater than normal risk of silicosis.  The first table below provides risk by occupation and the second provides risk by industry.
OCCUPATION

PMR

Miscellaneous metal and plastic machine operators

168.44

Hand molders and shapers, except jewelers

64.12

Crushing and grinding machine operators

50.97

Hand molding, casting, and forming occupations

35.70

Molding and casting machine operators

30.60

Mining machine operators

19.61

Mining occupations, *n.e.c.

15.33

Construction trades, *n.e.c.

14.77

Grinding, abrading, buffing, and polishing machine operators

8.47

Heavy equipment mechanics

7.72

Miscellaneous material moving equipment operators

6.92

Millwrights

6.56

Crane and tower operators

6.02

Brickmasons and stonemasons

4.71

Painters, construction and maintenance

4.50

Furnace, kiln, oven operators, except food

4.10

Laborers, except construction

3.79

Operating engineers

3.56

Welders and cutters

3.01

Machine operators, not specified

2.86

Not specified mechanics and repairers

2.84

Supervisors, production occupations

2.73

Construction laborers

2.14

Machinists

1.79

Janitors and cleaners

1.78

INDUSTRY

PMR

Metal mining

69.51

Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral and stone products

55.31

Nonmetallic mining and quarrying, except fuel

49.77

Iron and steel foundries

31.15

Pottery and related products

30.73

Structural clay products

27.82

Coal mining

9.26

Blast furnaces, steelworks, rolling and finishing mills

6.49

Miscellaneous fabricated metal products

5.87

Miscellaneous retail stores

4.63

Machinery, except electrical,*n.e.c.

3.96

Other primary metal industries

3.63

Industrial and miscellaneous chemicals

2.72

Not specified manufacturing industries

2.67

Construction

1.82

*n.e.c. – not elsewhere classified

See References 17 and 18 in the Bibliography.

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