Which railroad workers face silica exposure?
Railroad workers who repair or maintain tracks, or perform jobs like demolition, concrete work, masonry, construction, or sandblasting, face a high risk of silica exposure. Additionally, railroads use sand (which contains silica) to help train wheels grip the rails.
When railroad workers cut, drill, hammer, or break apart materials containing silica, they release silica dust into the air. Workers breathe in this dust, and it gets trapped in their lungs, causing scar tissue. However, even workers who don’t repair tracks are at risk. For example, when locomotive engineers spray traction sand onto the tracks below, the sand produces dust clouds that expose them to silica.
Why is silica exposure dangerous?
Silica dust particles are a known cancer-causing substance that puts workers at risk for lung cancer, COPD, kidney disease, and other breathing problems. Additionally, doctors have now linked sarcoidosis—a disease that was once unexplained—to silica exposure in transportation workers. However, the most common health problem from silica is silicosis, a lung disease that cannot be reversed and can disable or even kill workers. In fact, the most severe form, acute silicosis, can develop within just a few months to two years of exposure. It is almost always fatal. Doctors typically use chest X-rays to diagnose silicosis and track how the disease progresses.
How are workers protected from silica exposure?
OSHA’s previous permissible exposure limits (PELs) for silica were outdated and failed to protect workers’ health. As a result, OSHA established a new PEL for respirable crystalline silica in 2016. The new standard limits worker exposure to 50 micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air across all industries. OSHA also created new requirements for testing exposure levels, providing breathing protection, monitoring worker health, communicating hazards, and keeping records. Unfortunately, OSHA has not done enough to enforce these standards, which leaves workers exposed to dangerous conditions
Are railroad workers now safe from silica exposure?
No. In fact, even today, many railroad workers face regular, unsafe exposure to silica sand. Railroad industrial hygiene programs have often failed to identify which jobs and work areas require breathing protection. Additionally, the equipment railroad workers use is often poorly maintained and lacks pressurized cabins, weather stripping, or even air conditioning. As a result, workers breathe in excess silica dust and continue to face preventable health risks.
If you or a loved one worked for a railroad and have an illness related to silica exposure, contact Hughes Law Offices today. Call 312-877-5588.
Resources:
1: https://www.medrxiv.org/
2: Association of American Railroads, OSHA’s Silica Rulemaking: Railroad Industry (March 1, 2016).
3: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
4: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
5: Eastridge v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co. 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125126 (N.D. Ala. Feb. 15, 2008).
6: https://www.consumersafety.
8: https://www.osha.gov/laws-
10: https://www.lungcancercenter.
11: https://www.osha.gov/silica-
