Why is the face fit testing of Respiratory Protective Equipment so important? Some quotes, questions and concerns! Do I really have to shave? I’ve been doing this for years, why the

sudden change? It’ll be ok it’s only a little bit of dust

Asbestosis and silicosis.

What’s the Difference?

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.

Interstitial fibrosis resulting from workplace exposure to asbestos and crystalline silica persists throughout the world despite knowledge of the causes and effective means for prevention. Asbestosis and silicosis occurrence is predictable among people overexposed to dusts in various industries and occupations such as mining, construction, manufacturing, and building maintenance.

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.

Asbestosis and silicosis are incurable and may be progressive even after dust exposure has ceased, therefore early recognition and supportive interventions are important. Although current disease is a result of past exposures, effective control of current workplace exposures is the only way to prevent continued occurrence of these potentially debilitating diseases.

Remember these words

Fatalities, Asbestos, Silicosis and Cancer, 1986 -2010

Asbestosis (not mesothelioma) related deaths

So what is crystalline silica?Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil, sand, granite, and many other minerals. Quartz is the most common form of crystalline silica. Cristobalite and tridymite are two other forms of crystalline silica. All three forms may become respirable size particles when workers chip, cut, drill, or grind objects that contain crystalline silica

Exposure to Crystalline silica Fine particles of crystalline silica dust are deposited in the lungs, causing thickening and scarring of the lung tissue. Crystalline silica exposure has also been linked to lung cancer.

• Chronic silicosis: develops after 10 or more years of exposure to crystalline silica at relatively low concentrations• Accelerated silicosis: develops 5 to 10 years after initial exposure to crystalline silica at high concentrations• Acute silicosis: symptoms develop within a few weeks, or 4 to 5 years, after exposure to very high concentrations of crystalline silica

‘effective control of current workplace exposures is the only way to prevent continued occurrence of these potentially debilitating diseases’

We do have effective control measuresControl at source with Dust suppression,

Make sure it works correctlyMake sure you have enough water

AND Wear your RPE

Do you remember the words from earlier?

Suppress the dust at source

Dust Suppression does not replace the need to wear your correctly fitted RPE

Water droplets are heavier than air so will take the dust to ground

How a water droplet works

A fine spray is better than large water droplets

Wear your Respiratory Protection Equipment

You do have the choice of respiratory protection

You do know how to wear it correctly

You do know the dangers of not protecting yourself Healthy Lung Silicosis affected Lung

And you do care

So what was the difference between Asbestos and

Crystalline silica

Not much!

Any Questions ??????