By: Lesego Malete - staff writer“Many more mine workers suffer and die from lung sickness than any other mining hazard, even mine accidents.” – Research results from the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC).
Silicosis is a big problem in the mining industry and it’s not a new dilemma. According to research conducted by various experts at the National Institute of Occupational Health, this dates back internationally to the 1930s. International Labour Organisation (ILO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) set 2030 as a milestone year for the elimination of silicosis.
South Africa is working hard to ensure the problem is dealt with and has embarked on a number of projects to get the message across to all stakeholders. Work on this began as early as in the 1970s with the use of the ‘Stoffel Waterman’ cartoon character. The Department of Mineral Resources, formerly known as the Department of Minerals and Energy, set its own targets and is working to not have any new cases of silicosis diagnosed in previously unexposed workers.
The Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee (SIMRAC) is in partnership with WHO and ILO for the elimination of silicosis. MHSC is funding SIMRAC research projects in dust control and measurements. One of the projects SIMRAC worked on focused on dust measurement and reporting, and this underlined problems of measurements among other factors.
What is silicosis?
Silicosis, a lung disease, is caused by occupational exposure to silica dust, and in South Africa it is prone to surface in gild and coal mines. The disease is incurable and complications may include Tuberculosis (TB), lung cancer, severe lung fibrosis and lung malfunctions. Although it is not curable, it is preventable and it is what the targets for elimination are all about.
Dust control measures
Experts advise using the following methods to curb this problem:
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Replace silica with other less harmful materials where possible,
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Use engineering controls such as design and installation equipment to reduce airborne silica. Some controls include using blast-cleaning machines, cabinets, dust collectors, wet methods and more.
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Use appropriate administrative controls by:
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Limiting workers’ time in areas with high silica exposure and alternate exposure periods during work shifts,
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Place warning signs,
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Restrict access to harmful areas, and
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Performing necessary maintenance on equipment.
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Improve work practices by washing down surfaces or vacuuming the workplace.
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Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure it’s worn properly.
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Educate managers, workers and other relevant people about dust control measures.
It is law for mining companies to control dust and keep the workplace safe. According to the MHSC’s Preventing Silicosis – A Guide for Health and Safety Reps, ‘special’ instrumentation is needed to test dust accurately. However, one simple way to test dust is to use a head lamp and shine it in front of you into the air. If there is more dust than usual, it must be reported. The mine has a responsibility to measure dust for each section separately. The companies should be compliant in having less than 0,1 mg of silica dust in one cubic metre of air. However, the aim is to keep the dust level at 0,05 mg per cubic metre. The organisation states if the dust measuring instrument reveals the team is working in air with more dust than stipulation allows, findings on how to provide clean air without dust must be done.
The results of the damages
Silicosis causes disabilities and in some extreme cases, it is deadly. Therefore it is important for mine workers to look out for the following symptoms.
There are three types of silicosis.
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Chronic silicosis occurs 15-20 years after exposure and the symptoms include short breath, fatigue, chest pains and respiratory failure.
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Accelerated silicosis surfaces five to ten years after exposure. In such a case, the symptoms include weakness, short breath and weight loss.
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Acute silicosis is an extreme case, and occurs a few months to two years after exposure and symptoms include some of the above mentioned and can lead to death.
Stakeholders in the mining industry are working hard to ensure the disease is eliminated. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. The point is, it’s not only mining companies’ responsibility to make sure this is achieved, it is the mineworkers’ duty to play their part as well. If workers do not feel safe in their work environment, they can walk out if they have used all the avenues available to them to report unsafe working environments.
The Mine Health and Safety Act says:
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Any worker can walk out of the workplace when they see it is not safe,
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Workers can also walk out when they have good reasons for thinking a mine is not safe,
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and Management cannot punish or victimise workers for doing this by treating them in an unfair way. mmpr
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