Hazard Alert From OSHA, March 25, 2016

Worker Exposure to Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identified exposure to airborne silica as a health hazard to workers conducting some hydraulic fracturing operations during recent field studies.

Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth’s crust. It occurs primarily as quartz and is a major component of the sand, clay and stone materials used to make every day products such as concrete, brick and glass.

Respirable crystalline silica is the portion of crystalline silica that is small enough to enter the gas-exchange regions of the lungs if inhaled; this includes particles with aerodynamic diameters less than approximately 10 micrometers (μm).
Introduction

Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a process used to “stimulate” well production in the oil and gas industry. It is not a new process, but its use has increased significantly in the last 10 years because of new horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracking (or “completions”) technologies that improve access to natural gas and oil deposits. It involves pumping large volumes of water and sand into a well at high pressure to fracture shale and other tight formations, allowing oil and gas to flow into the well.

NIOSH’s recent field studies show that workers may be exposed to dust with high levels of respirable crystalline silica (called “silica” in this Hazard Alert) during hydraulic fracturing.

This Hazard Alert discusses the health hazards associated with hydraulic fracturing and focuses on worker exposures to silica in the air. It covers the health effects of breathing silica, recommends ways to protect workers, and describes how OSHA and NIOSH can help. Workers and employers need to be aware of the hazard that silica dust poses. Employers must ensure that workers are properly protected from exposure to silica. This Hazard Alert also provides a brief summary of other health and safety hazards to workers conducting hydraulic fracturing activities.

OSHA and the NIOSH have been investigating worker safety and health hazards in oil and gas extraction, including chemical exposures during hydraulic fracturing operations.

OSHA has jurisdiction over the safety and health of workers, including workers involved in upstream oil and gas operations. The General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act and OSHA’s General Industry Standards (29 CFR 1910) apply to the upstream industry. As part of the enforcement of these regulations, five OSHA regions located in areas of significant upstream activities use national, regional, and local emphasis programs to inspect oilfield worksites, including those that may have ongoing hydraulic fracturing operations.

NIOSH made safety and health in the oil and gas extraction industry a priority focus area in 2005 by creating the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Oil and Gas Extraction Council, which includes OSHA and industry leaders in a cooperative effort to address occupational safety and health issues. To address an existing lack of information on occupational dust and chemical exposures associated with hydraulic fracturing, NIOSH established specific industry partnerships and initiated the NIOSH Field Effort to Assess Chemical Exposure Risks to Gas and Oil Workers*. Exposure to silica during hydraulic fracturing has been the focus of the NIOSH study to date.

See also: http://www.FrackCheckWV.net