In July 2021, AIR Safety joined the campaign of the National Plan for the Eradication of Silicosis 2030 (PLANESI), raising user awareness of the irreversible lung damage that this disease causes.
Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by continuous exposure to silica without respiratory protection, which, if not detected in time, develops into irreversible and eventually progressive pulmonary fibrosis. The eradication of silicosis has become a global mission that the
Ministry of Health (Minsal) and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Chile enacted in 2007, with the goal of eradicating this disease throughout the country by 2030.
As experts in respiratory protection, AIR Safety joined this campaign in July 2021 to raise awareness of those who work in environments with high levels of silica, such as mining and construction, through the campaign #LaSilicosisMata, which had a reach of more than 5,000 people on social networks.
“Silicosis is an occupational disease that can be prevented by the constant use of respiratory protection. Currently, the ‘Work Environment and Health Surveillance Protocol for Workers Exposed to Silica’ can be found online and its implementation is simple, with significant effects on
the healthcare of workers,” says Rodrigo Salazar, Technical Manager of AIR Safety.
Regarding RPE that helps prevent this irreversible disease, the main recommendation is to use particle filters made of folded glass microfiber paper or electrostatically charged polypropylene sheets, which trap and retain silica particles, preventing them from entering the body through the respiratory tract. AIR filters such as F200CP3, F700P3, F700CP3, and PFP2 achieve a minimum efficiency of 99.95 % for exposure to gases, vapors, and particles such as silica.
Regarding RPE that helps prevent this irreversible disease, the main recommendation is to use particle filters made of folded glass microfiber paper or electrostatically charged polypropylene sheets, which trap and retain silica particles, preventing them from entering the body through the respiratory tract. AIR filters such as F200CP3, F700P3, F700CP3, and PFP2 achieve a minimum efficiency of 99.95 % for exposure to gases, vapors, and particles such as silica.
What should a company do to eradicate silicosis?
- Implement an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS), which includes the risks of silica;
- Implement Environmental and Health Surveillance Programs;
- Train workers on silica exposure and prevention measures;
- Implement control measures to reduce, control, or eliminate exposure.
Ask for consulting or training in Respiratory Protection, a service that AIR Safety provides free of charge to its customers.
Download below relevant material to take care of the respiratory health of workers in your project or site: Work Environment and Health Surveillance Protocol for Workers Exposed to Silica