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OSHA Physicals
Silica Physicals
A Silica Physical Exam is required by OSHA to be performed upon hire (or prior to silica exposure) and every 3 years thereafter (or more frequently if determined by a physician).
Workers who inhale these very small crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, including:
- Silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death;
- Lung cancer;
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and
- Kidney disease.
Why Silica Physicals?
Respirable crystalline silica are very small particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand and are are created when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar.
Industrial sand used in certain operations, such as foundry work and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), is also a source of respirable crystalline silica exposure. About 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work.
PEOPLE
1
M
Number exposed in the U.S alone
times
1
Smaller than ordinary sand
Protecting your employees from exposure to this harmful agent is crucial to the success of your business.
What are the OSHA Regulations?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1153-“Respirable Crystalline Silica”
- OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for general industry and maritime requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. The standard requires employers to:
- Assess employee exposures to silica if it may be at or above an action level of 25 µg/m3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air), averaged over an 8-hour day;
- Protect workers from respirable crystalline silica exposures above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day;
- Limit workers’ access to areas where they could be exposed above the PEL;
- Use dust controls to protect workers from silica exposures above the PEL;
- Provide respirators to workers when dust controls cannot limit exposures to the PEL;
- Use housekeeping methods that do not create airborne dust, if feasible;
- Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers;
- Offer medical exams – including chest X-rays and lung function tests – every three years for workers exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year;
- General industry and maritime employers must comply with all requirements of the standard by June 23, 2018, except for the following:
- Medical surveillance must be offered to employees who will be exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year starting on June 23, 2020. (Medical surveillance must be offered to employees who will be exposed above the PEL for 30 or more days a year starting on June 23, 2018.)
- Hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry must implement engineering controls to limit exposures to the new PEL by June 23, 2021.
- Construction employers must comply with all requirements of the standard by September 23, 2017, except requirements for laboratory evaluation of exposure samples, which begin on June 23, 2018.
What are the Risks?
Workers who inhale these very small crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, including:
- Silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Kidney disease
What do we do?
Our methods for physicals follow OSHA's Standard Guidelines
The respirable crystalline silica standard requires at a minimum the following:
- Physical exam with special emphasis on the respiratory system
- TB testing
- Chest X-Ray with B Reader
- Pulmonary Function Test
In addition, the silica physical may also include:
The physician will also review the employer’s notes that detail the patient’s job description and level of exposure to silica and other hazardous materials.
Hearing Test
Vision Test
EKG
Urine and Blood Samples
Note: Above tests are at the physician’s discretion based on medical history and current/past exposures
Related News for you
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IT’S HERE! Mining Industry Faces Strict MHSA Silica Rule Effective June 17, 2024
On April 18, 2024, MSHA issued its final rule, Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection, to reduce miner exposures to respirable
Occupational Medicine
Strict OSHA Silica Rules Coming in 2024 for Miners and General Industry, How To Prepare
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Looking for something different?
We also offer many other Physicals, Screenings and Tests and Employer Services from Biometric Screenings to Work Injury Treatment Plans.
We offer a number of screenings, tests, and other medical services from Biometric Screenings to Vaccinations to X-Rays, and more.
We offer a number of physicals related to DOT, Non-DOT Medical Services, and OSHA-Related work, such as DOT Physicals, Respiratory and HAZMAT/HAZWOPER Physicals, and more.
We offer services for all different types of employers, whether you are regulated by DOT, OSHA or any other government organization. We can manage your Work Injury Treatment Plans.
OnSite Clinic Services
Our Onsite Clinics can be utilized in one of two ways, Onsite Clinical Staffing or Mobile Onsite Clinics. This means we can either send a team of staff members to your place of business and use your facility to administer services or they can perform the services in our Mobile Clinic.
- Onsite Clinical Staffing
Our Onsite Clinical Staff are contracted to perform the medical services you need, when you need them, utilizing your facility spaces.
- Mobile Onsite Clinics
Our medical staff will coordinate with you to determine the best place to set up our Mobile Health Clinic as well as how long you would need the unit.
Silica Physicals are offered at all offices
Lititz, PA Office
Georgetown, DE Office
-
20797 Professional Park Blvd.
Georgetown, DE 19947 - 302.515.1708
- 302.253.8338 (Fax)
- info@cnsoccmed.com
- Monday - Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM (closed Sat.-Sun.)
Questions about Silica Physicals?
Our Occupational Healthcare staff members specialize in Silica Physicals and are ready to answer any questions you have whether you need In-Clinic Services or Onsite Clinic Services. All medical staff has very specific knowledge in Occupational Medicine, which is exactly what you need.
