How much rock dust would I have to breath to get silicosis?
Question by dodge_mj: How much rock dust would I have to breath to get silicosis?
I’ve taken up soapstone carving. I always keep the rock soaked in water and use hand tools, but I’m paranoid about breathing any rock dust at all. Should I be?
Would I know if I was starting to get silicosis before it was way to late?
Best answer:
Answer by justagirlfromadream
well, i work out at a surface coal mine, where it is very dusty, and the dust has a lot of silica it in. as long as you’re not breathing in massive amounts of it, like, sitting in coulds of rock dust for many years, you should be okay. you can tell you are starting to get it if you get a chronic cough, like a smokers cough, that won’t go away.
What do you think? Answer below!
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You can get it in a few exposure or you can get it in long term exposures. There is no set expsoure level, but OSHA does have safety standards.
Contact your local workers comp folks, ask for an industrial Hygenist and then requst the information from that person.
I wear a double filtered full mask when sand blasting and rock sawing.