FAQs

Where can I get info on the Canada Labour Code Coal Mining Occupational Health and Safety Regulations?
Information on the Canada Labour Code Coal Mining Occupational Health and Safety Regulations can be found here.

Where is asbestos found?
Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It is in many of the common materials used in the building trade. It can be found in any of the following places:

• Attic and wall insulation containing vermiculite
• Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceilings
• Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
• Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape
• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation
• Heat-resistant fabrics
• Automobile clutches and brakes

Why is asbestos harmful?
When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious lung conditions that often take a long time to develop but, once diagnosed, can be deadly. Asbestos can cause the following conditions:

• Mesothelioma
• Asbestos-related lung cancer
• Asbestosis
• Pleural thickening

It is also important to remember that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.

How can I protect myself from exposure?
You can protect yourself by ensuring that you receive the proper training. In many provinces, each worker must undergo a certificate course through an accredited agency. Each worker must also ensure that they are wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) including respiratory protective equipment appropriate for asbestos exposure. Talk to your employer if you have any questions or concerns.

Where can I find more information on asbestos regulatory requirements?
Provincial or state government websites will often have links and resources related to OHS regulations which can be reviewed and/or downloaded, such as WorkSafe BC and the Government of Alberta Website.

What are the health risks associated with coal dust exposure?
Exposure to coal dust can occur during the mining and handling of coal during cleaning, blending processes, or in bulk handling and can result in a serious disease commonly known as “black lung”. This disease was first recognized as a disease of British coal miners in the mid-17th century. Black lung includes CWP, bronchitis, emphysema, and silicosis in association with a history of employment in coal mines.

What is Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP)?
CWP is the inflammation and scarring of the lungs caused by exposure to coal dust. Diagnosis of CWP is usually based on x-ray results. There are two types of CWP: simple and complicated. Simple CWP often has no symptoms. Coughing and a shortness of breath that worsens as the disease progresses are symptoms that may be present in the later stages of the disease. Complicated CWP is also called Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF) and is associated with significant decreases in lung function and oxygen diffusing capacity.

What factors can contribute to the development of CWP?
Not all workers who are exposed to coal dust will develop CWP. Factors that may affect someone’s likelihood of developing the condition include differences in the effectiveness of lung clearance mechanisms, differences in the auto-immune reaction in the lung tissue, possible genetic susceptibility, and smoking.

What is the treatment for CWP?
There is no effective treatment for CWP apart from eliminating further exposure.

Are there occupational health and safety regulations with respect to coal dust?
Yes. There are regulations under the Canadian Labour Code and some provinces have additional regulations that pertain to required medical monitoring for any workers exposed to coal dust. Additionally, regulations in the United States can be found on the US Department of Labor website via the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) or on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Where is silica found?
Silica is present in about 95% of rocks, clays, sands and soils. Hazardous exposure can occur when crystalline silica found in sand, quartz, and granite becomes airborne as dust from certain activities.

What activities create crystalline silica?

• Crystalline silica becomes airborne as dust from activities such as:
• Demolition of brick, concrete, or masonry
• Chipping, hammering, grinding, sawing, and drilling in concrete, brick, or rock
• Abrasive blasting using sand or from material being blasted such as concrete
• Crushing, loading, and hauling of concrete or rock
• Dry sweeping concrete, sand, or rock dust
• Trenching or excavating
• Proppant for hydraulic fracturing

What is silicosis?
Silicosis is caused when crystalline silica particles less than 10 microns in diameter are inhaled and deposited into the lungs. Lung tissue reacts by developing lumps and scarring around trapped silica particles. If lumps and scar tissue become too large, breathing becomes difficult, the results of which could be fatal.

What factors influence the development of silicosis?
The following factors can have an impact on the development of silicosis:

• Particle type (quartz, sand, granite, etc.)
• Particle size
• How long a person has been exposed
• The concentration of silica dust in the air
• Individual susceptibility