this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2024
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Danger Dust
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I work in the mining industry and we had a huge issue with silicosis. The dust that destroys your lungs is about smaller than 7 microns. That size any and all things like mucous and other bodily mechanisms to catch the dust fails, and the silicon crystal with its sharp edges enters and cuts the alveoli and scar tissue forms making any gas exchange almost impossible. And you can usually only see up to 25 microns, so basically the air looks clean, you don't feel the dust entering your lungs there is no way to tell except getting winded easier, thinking maybe you have become less fit and it progresses slowly until you realise something is amiss, then it is to late, irreversible damage that can be fatal
What type of respirator do you need to wear to protect against that, out of interest?
Usually a thick mask with a valve to let air out, it's like 3mm thick. Well underground first thing is to water down the entire working area, helps in cooling the area as well. So everything needs to stay wet. Next with masks in place, you still have to monitor, usually a handful of employees will wear a device that monitors their exposure as well as devices at specific areas of work. Then there is the medical monitoring were every 3-6 months a Xray, will be done and lung capacity and performance will be tested on each employee.