2TSustainAbility discusses Silica Risk at AIHACE in Seattle

06.5.2017                            2T-NAI-2017-004

2TSustainAbility was asked to make a joint presentation at the American Industrial Hygiene Association Conference (AIHACE) if the new USA OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Administration, part of the US Department of Labor) Standard on Silica was relevant. 2TSustainAbility spoke about their experiences with the European implementation of legislation to reduce worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica and the similarities to the OSHA Standard. Co-presenters included occupational epidemiologist, and industrial hygienist who shared global experiences in the awareness building and study of the risks of silica exposure on the health of workers. Scientific studies are demonstrating an increase in cases of silicosis due in part to increased construction and fracking within the USA as well as a lack of awareness of the problem in the developing world.

Presenters were later interviewed by a reporter for Chemical News who was working on an article on reasons for the increase of silicosis. All presenters are members of the non-profit organization Workplace Health Without Borders of which 2TSustainAbility is an active contributor.