lung and airway disorders
Silicosis
Prevention of Silicosis
Primary preventive measures begin with eliminating or reducing exposure. The most effective primary prevention is implementation of engineering controls (control of the environment) to limit exposure to silica. Properly fitted respirators provide additional protection. Measures to prevent complications include Smoking Cessation and vaccinations against Due to persistence of silicosis, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an updated Respirable Silica Standard in 2016. The standard lowers the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and requires pre-employment and periodic medical surveillance of silica-exposed workers. Medical surveillance includes questionnaires, lung function tests, and periodic chest x-rays. 