SAFETY AND PNEUMOCONIOSES - ABRASIVE BLASTING AND PROTECTIVE RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT

Industry has long recognized the existence of hazards in the workplace caused by abrasive blast cleaning and the associated costs in terms of human health and litigation. This article discusses claims of greater safety made by some suppliers of mineral abrasives and protective equipment and other ambiguous statements attributed to printed sales literature. The need for precaution and protection when dealing with any source of airborne particulates necessitates the implementation of a formal corporate respiratory protection program that comprehensively addresses respiratory hazard determinations, worker training, and medical evaluations. The very fact that abrasive blast cleaning is taking place, regardless of the type or source of the media, dictates that workers must be thoroughly protected while industry minimizes the overall cost of the projects.