318 - Silicosis in an Engineered Stone Investigation and the Occupational Health Response; Worker Screening and Authorizations Under the OSHA Silica Standard

In an investigation of a countertop fabrication facility in Illinois, three of five fabricators have severe lung disease related to respirable crystalline silica exposure. A 32-year-old required lung transplantation for accelerated silicosis. His father, a co-worker, also has severe lung disease. The workplace was non-compliant with numerous OSHA standards. Two workers' compensation insurers have dropped coverage for the company. The Chicago occupational health community responded rapidly with several key initiatives based on the California experience with severe silicosis from work with engineered stone. This session will describe the process of occupational disease detection and the approach to action for the medical professional. It will also provide insights from the medical screening of thousands of workers under the OSHA Silica Standard with particular emphasis on the written authorization process for specialist referrals and silica restrictions.