Dusty Roach
This month’s topic is absolutely pertinent and timely. Normally it is a sleep-inducer of a topic, the reason being that its ramifications are long term, as opposed to short term—and short term ramifications generally attract greater attention. Silica and silicosis have been an issue in the oilfield and construction industries for quite some time. Largely due to its long history and its slow progression, silicosis does not get much notice, except by OSHA and those of us in the safety business. There are other lines of business/industry that are adversely affected as well, but since this magazine is devoted directly to the oil and gas industry, I’ve taken that angle specifically. I hope to push the sense of urgency that is necessary for the welfare and safety of our workers in the oilfield.
As I have brought up before in one of my earliest articles, I mentioned Mount Rushmore. Until you have seen Mount Rushmore in person, you cannot fully imagine the sheer beauty and magnitude of this beautiful homage to the four presidents’ faces on the side of the mountain. With that being said, it took 14 years to complete from beginning to end, for a cost of only a million dollars. The reason I bring these facts up is to emphasize that there can be important facts that are not common knowledge—at least among those who have not done their research.
In the 14 years of construction, there were some accidents. That is to be expected when working with air drills, jackhammers, dynamite, etc. while dangling on the side of a mountain. However, in the entire duration of the project there was not one job related fatality attributable to an accident. Not one.
As impressive as that safety record is, there were job related fatalities. Records are sketchy but at least six recorded deaths were directly attributed to that long-term silent killer, silicosis.
Silicosis is a difficult topic on which to try to create a sense of urgency in the name of protection. I have been to the field an immeasurable number of times conducting field audits and observations. I cannot tell you how many times, during frac’ing operations, I have seen workers with their masks down, off, or under their nose while working in clouds of dust. Some workers are even smoking while on the job while pumping proppant.
Here are some facts on silicosis: 1. It is an interstitial lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of crystalline silica. 2. It is associated with many types of sand, rock, and soil. 3. Over time, exposure causes permanent lung scarring called pulmonary fibrosis. 4. The condition is exacerbated by smoking. 5. Long term and concentrated short term exposure is extremely risky. 6. Most training on silicosis is just awareness training. 7. Enforcement of wearing proper PPE is minimal on most locations. 8. Silicosis is a permanent disease with NO cure. 9. Treatment options that are currently available focus on alleviating symptoms and preventing further progress of symptoms.
So, in a nutshell, it is a long-drawn-out killer, with no hope currently of a cure. So, all of these workers on frac sites are exposed to this disease, some more than others. It robs our workers of their golden years, as they do not realize they have put themselves in harm’s way. Sadly, by the time it has been diagnosed, it has irreversible effects.
There are numerous stories by family members from the ones who died of silicosis, after completing Mt. Rushmore. Case in point: Jack (Palooka) Payne’s daughter, Jackie Maggio, whose account is out there for those who want to research it.
Lastly, OSHA is proposing new rules that would limit exposure of the PEL to .50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air averaged over an 8-hour day. Unfortunately, most workers working in the silica environment work 12-hour shifts. This rule covers all industries. In addition to these standards, there are medical standards that require medical exams for those with high silica exposure.
In summation, the risk cannot be fully ascertained until it is too late. With the ups and downs of our industry, it is uncommon to see any employees with tenure accumulate all the accurate historical information to fully stay on top of the risks of this deadly disease.
So I encourage all decision makers who are responsible for personnel in or around the frac’ing operations to take this information seriously. In these days when safety has become largely litigation driven, it would be prudent to be proactive and well documented with regard to this horrible disease. Plus, the satisfaction of taking care of your workers is a trait to be proud of.
This article is meant to heighten awareness of a profoundly serious hazard. For more information, please refer to OSHA’s website at OSHA.gov.
As always it is a pleasure to bring readers to the wonderful world of Safety each month. I am glad oil prices are creeping up, as is business. I anxiously await the next boom. Until then, wear your hardhat and watch out for hazards. Be safe.
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Dusty Roach is a safety professional based in Midland. He is also a public speaker on subjects of leadership and safety, and he maintains a personal website at dustyroach.com.