The B.C. Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) is developing an online tool to help keep workers safe from toxic silica dust and meet government safety requirements.
The online and mobile tool will help workers determine likely silica exposures at their worksites and the appropriate controls that meet WorkSafeBC requirements.
The project also includes outreach activities for the industry about the regulatory requirements, hazards and controls relating to silica – such as the hazards of silica in various tasks, means of controlling exposures and provincial safety requirements.
According to Nancy Harwood, who is heading up the BCCSA project, the initiative arose after WorkSafeBC proposed amendments to the occupational health and safety regulations relating to silica in 2013.
She explained that public hearings on the requirements have been postponed until 2015 so that industry concerns about its ability to respond and comply with the requirements can be addressed.
With the project, the BCCSA has undertaken to provide assistance to the industry in protecting workers, and applying the regulated exposure limits, controls and other requirements applicable to silica exposure.
The BCCSA is providing the project management, funding, communication, outreach and education activities and liaison with other interested jurisdictions.
It will also be responsible for administration and upkeep of the tool, which will receive regular updates to reflect new data.
University of British Columbia (UBC) is providing OH&S research expertise, user support and assistance with training.
Led by professor Hugh Davies of the School of Population and Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine, the work has several components.
The researchers will perform an environmental scan of other jurisdictions response to respirable crystalline silica hazard reduction in the construction industry.
They’ll locate sources of silica-related data for the construction industry and collect it into database for the tool.
As well, they will develop a silica risk assessment and controls matrix to guide employer response to hazardous silica exposure situations.
The matrix will consider the task being performed, risk assessment and control measures.
They will also investigate other tools, occupations, materials and the environment. Researchers plan to address any significant data gaps – including through sampling. Together with project partners, user documentation for the tool will be developed as well as training material to support appropriate use of tool in a silica exposure control plans.
WorkSafeBC is assisting with technical hygiene expertise, issuance of any related guidance and compliance documentation (e.g. OH&S guidelines), industry outreach activities, and review of data through application of quality criteria.
According to the BCCSA, the tool pilot project is expected to wrap up in April 2015 and be implemented with the outreach plan in February 2016.
Other industry groups are behind the project, including the B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association.
"We saw that it would be beneficial to everybody," said the association’s president, Jack Davidson.
He noted that the testing and plan development requirements for specific jobs could slow down sites.
"It takes weeks to get back study results," he said.
He is hopeful the project will assist in speeding up the process.
Silica dust is a material found in natural materials like sand, sandstone, granite, aggregates, clay, shale and slate. It is also used in concrete, masonry products, brick and tile. Workers are often exposed when these materials are drilled, cut or ground which creates dusts. According to the BCCSA, more than 380,000 workers, mostly construction workers, are exposed to the dust each year.
Acute silicosis can occur just weeks or months after a high exposure, and can be fatal. Other delayed health effects can appear years later, like lung cancer or chronic silicosis.
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