Italian Initiative on Artificial Stone and Silica · Italian Initiative on Artificial Stone and...
Transcript of Italian Initiative on Artificial Stone and Silica · Italian Initiative on Artificial Stone and...
EU OSHA Bilbao
28 January 2015
Italian Initiative on Artificial Stone and Silica
Ludovica Malaguti Aliberti and Marco Mecchia
Center of Chemical Substances – National Institute of Health
CSC Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority - INAIL
Part 2 Exposure to crystalline silica in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone (Italy)
photos by Azzone, Bisio, Scibelli and Compagnoni
Number of measured data
item/plants
Resp. fraction (mg/m3) Resp. Quartz (mg/m3) Respirable Quartz (%)
Percentile value Percentile value Percentile value
10th 50th 90th 10th 50th 90th 10th 50th 90th
Sawing and Milling
182/88 0.09 0.44 1.43 0.005 0.030 0.180 1.1 8.2 22.5
Kernelling, charring and scabbing
26/17 0.26 0.61 3.04 0.010 0.150 0.830 1.4 22.2 48.3
Impact drilling and chiselling
203/35 0.09 0.62 1.41 0.010 0.050 0.290 1.7 8.6 41.2
Machine grinding
54/33 0.200 0.65 3.56 0.004 0.030 0.490 0.9 7.1 19.3
Manual grinding
102/49 0.21 0.89 3.27 0.005 0.040 0.490 0.6 6.2 21.1
TOTAL - manufacture, processing and work natural stone, stonemasonry
892/271 0.11 0.60 1.91 0.010 0.050 0.340 1.4 9.9 30.0
Exposure data in processing NATURAL stone (Germany 1995-2004)
Number of measured data
item/plants
Resp. fraction (mg/m3) Resp. Quartz (mg/m3) Respirable Quartz (%)
Percentile value Percentile value Percentile value
10th 50th 90th 10th 50th 90th 10th 50th 90th
Sawing and Milling
182/88 0.09 0.44 1.43 0.005 0.030 0.180 1.1 8.2 22.5
Kernelling, charring and scabbing
26/17 0.26 0.61 3.04 0.010 0.150 0.830 1.4 22.2 48.3
Impact drilling and chiselling
203/35 0.09 0.62 1.41 0.010 0.050 0.290 1.7 8.6 41.2
Machine grinding
54/33 0.200 0.65 3.56 0.004 0.030 0.490 0.9 7.1 19.3
Manual grinding
102/49 0.21 0.89 3.27 0.005 0.040 0.490 0.6 6.2 21.1
TOTAL - manufacture, processing and work natural stone, stonemasonry
892/271 0.11 0.60 1.91 0.010 0.050 0.340 1.4 9.9 30.0
>0.1
≤0.1
≤0.05
≤0.025
BGIA – Report 8/2006e
QU
AR
TZ C
ON
TEN
T
natural stone
Quartz (crystalline silica) content in rocks .
QU
AR
TZ C
ON
TEN
T
natural stone
. and artificial stones
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Facilities investigated in Italy Natural and artificial stones (raw materials) are sourced from Italy and abroad, and then cut and finished by a team of craftsmen
Respirable Crystaline Silica (RCS) exposure monitoring results have been published in three papers:
3
3. Azzone M., Bisio E., Scibelli A. (2014). Intervento di vigilanza ‘Lavorazione di marmi tecnici’. Network Italiano Silice – Inail. Simposio ‘Silice libera cristallina: fra dibattito scientifico e buone prassi’. Roma, 22 maggio 2014.
1
1. Bartoli D., Banchi B., Di Benedetto F., Farina G., Iaia T., Poli C., Romanelli M., Scancarello G., Tarchi M. (2012). Silicosis in employees in the processing of kitchen, bar and shop countertops made from quartz resin composite. Ital. J. Occup. Environ. Hyg., 3(3), p.138-143.
2
2. Candido D., Compagnoni R. (2013). Esposizione a silice libera cristallina durante la lavorazione di materiali lapidei artificiali. Atti 8° Seminario Contarp, edizioni Inail.
• 22 stone finishing factories (60 workers) :
- 14 factories use only natural stones (31 workers) - 8 factories use both natural and artificial stones (29 workers)
Bartoli et al., 2012
1. Research on workers’ health (60 workers)
2. Measurements of RCS exposure (2 factories)
Chest X-rays according to ILO-BIT: 1 case of SILICOSIS among the 31 workers in the 14 facilities where only natural stones were used 7 cases of SILICOSIS (1 severe case) among the 29 workers in the 8 facilities where both natural and artificial stones were used
1. Monitoring conducted by the USL (local health authority) of Empoli and the University of Florence
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Surface processing and finishing
include the following operations:
• Dressing
• Brushing
• Sanding
• Bush hammering
• Rolling
• Polishing
Polishing machine
These operations take place mainly through the use of semi-automatic machines (wet dust suppression )
photo by Compagnoni
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
These operations take place mainly through the use of semi-automatic machines (wet dust suppression )
Activity Factory
Concentration (mg/m3)
Respirable Dust Respirable
Quartz
Polishing (band polishing machine) A
0.45 0.041
Slab cutting (+ manual dressing) 4.92 0.059
Slab cutting
B
0.38 0.027
0.40 0.029
Polishing (+ manual dressing) 0.60 0.046
Polishing 0.42 0.027
Pantograph engraving 0.40 0.011
0.27 0.012
average sampling time Bartoli et al., 2012
>0.1
≤0.1
≤0.05
≤0.025
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Dry polishing photo by Compagnoni
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Surface processing and finishing
include the following operations:
• Dressing
• Brushing
• Sanding
• Bush hammering
• Rolling
• Polishing
Dry cutting, grinding and polishing are performed using handheld angle grinders
Activity Factory
Concentration (mg/m3)
Respirable Dust Respirable
Quartz
Dressing (granite and artificial stone) A 4.30 >0.360
2.00 >0.360
Dressing (granite and artificial stone) B
0.82 0.215
6.28 >0.520
4.59 >0.290
Dressing (granite) 5.77 0.049
Dry cutting, grinding and polishing are performed using handheld angle grinders
average sampling time Bartoli et al., 2012
>0.1
≤0.1
≤0.05
≤0.025
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Measurement in a finishing factory where 60 workers were employed
Candido and Compagnoni, 2013
2. Survey conducted by the INAIL (Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority) Marche Regional Office
Both natural and artificial stones were used (products: paving blocks for building and kitchen countertops)
average sampling time
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Quartz A.S.= 1% Granite=4% Other stones=95%
Quartz A.S.= 15-55% Granite=10-35%
Other stones=10-75%
Quartz A.S.= 15-55% Granite=10-35%
Other stones=10-75%
Quartz A.S.= 1% Granite=4% Other stones=95%
Dressing using an angle grinder (dry process) on a dust purification bench Crystalline Silica Exposure : 0.076 mg/m3
QUARTZ artificial stone
photo by Compagnoni
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Scratching using an angle grinder (dry process)
Dust purification bench with water depuration
www.centroventilazione.com
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
www.centroventilazione.com
Scratching using an angle grinder (dry process)
Dust purification wall with water depuration
Dressing using an angle grinder (dry process) Crystalline Silica Exposure : 0.012 mg/m3
NATURAL MARBLE stone
photo by Compagnoni
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
2 suspected cases of silicosis were found in a factory where quartz artificial stone slabs were processed to produce kitchen countertops
Azzone et al., 2014
Cutting , grinding and polishing operations were often performed through dry processes, in a dusty workplace, without proper general and local exhaust ventilation systems
3. Monitoring conducted by the ASL (Local Health Authority) of Asti and ARPA (Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment) of Piedmont
photo by Azzone, Bisio and Scibelli
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
Activity Factory
Concentration (mg/m3)
(%)
Respir. Dust
Respir. Quartz
Respir. Quartz
Slab cutting (handheld angle grinder - dry) A 5.2 4.900 94%
Slab cutting (milling machine - wet)
A
0.5 0.430 86%
Edge polishing (Band polishing machine - wet) 1.0 0.940 94%
Pantograph engraving (wet) 0.4 0.400 100%
Surface polishing (polishing machine – wet) 0.4 0.320 80%
average sampling time
Azzone et al., 2014
>0.1
≤0.1
≤0.05
≤0.025
Respirable dust and silica exposure
photo by Azzone, Bisio and Scibelli
A new monitoring was carried out in the facory after a radical redesign and reorganization of the facility
Azzone et al., 2014
Survey conducted by the ASL (Local Health Authority) of Asti and ARPA (Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment) of Piedmont
Sawing Polishing Dressing edges
RCS exposure in factories for the production of kitchen countertops using artificial stone
PPE: mask FFP3 Personal Protective Equipment
Activity Factory
Concentration (mg/m3)
(%)
Respir. Dust
Respir. Quartz
Respir. Quartz
Slab cutting (handheld angle grinder - dry) A 5.2 4.900 94%
Slab cutting (milling machine - wet)
A
0.5 0.430 86%
Edge polishing (Band polishing machine - wet) 1.0 0.940 94%
Pantograph engraving (wet) 0.4 0.400 100%
Surface polishing (polishing machine – wet) 0.4 0.320 80%
Azzone et al., 2014
Activity Factory
Concentration (mg/m3)
(%)
Respir. Dust
Respir. Quartz
Respir. Quartz
Slab cutting (handheld angle grinder - dry) A BEFORE 5.2 4.900 94%
Slab cutting (milling machine - wet)
A BEFORE
0.5 0.430 86%
Edge polishing (Band polishing machine - wet) 1.0 0.940 94%
Pantograph engraving (wet) 0.4 0.400 100%
Surface polishing (polishing machine – wet) 0.4 0.320 80%
Slab cutting (new milling machine - wet)
A AFTER
0.2 0.017 9%
Edge polishing (new polishing machine - wet) 0.2 0.013 7%
Slab cutting (new milling machine - wet) 0.1 0.014 14%
Slab cutting (new milling machine - wet) 0.2 0.018 9%
Dressing and polishing (handheld grinder- wet) 0.1 0.013 13%
Dressing and polishing (handheld grinder- wet) 0.1 0.017 17%
Slab cutting (new milling machine - wet) 0.1 0.006 6%
>0.1
≤0.1
≤0.05
≤0.025
Respirable dust and silica exposure average sampling time
RCS exposure - Efficacy of engineering controls under controlled conditions
Cooper J.H., Johnson D.L. and Phillips M.L. (2014) Respirable Silica Dust Suppression During Artificial Stone Countertop Cutting. Ann. Occup. Hyg., 1–5
Wetted blade: common water stream attachment to suppress the dust Water curtain: fan-shaped, secondary water flow, sprayed normal to the path of the ejected stone dust Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV): cowl mounted to the guard surrounding blade
Test Wetted
blade + LEV
Wetted blade + water curtain
Wetted blade only
Dry
1 n.d. 2.944 4.846
44.37 2 0.139 0.920 2.563
3 0.201 3.405 1.874
4 0.669 1.373 2.209
Respirable quartz dust concentrations (mg/m3)
Handheld circular saw cutting
0
Conclusions
Quartz artificial stone contain very high percentage of crystalline silica. In the absence of effective dust controls, the cutting, grinding and polishing quartz artificial stone generate very dangerous levels of exposure to silica. Nonetheless, the implementation of effective dust controls, including machines equipped with efficient dust suppression systems, local exhaust ventilation systems, PPE, and administrative controls, air monitoring, and worker training can adequately control the risk.