Introduction
For many years, hydraulic fracturing was an important element of oil and gas drilling operations. With the rapid advancement of new technologies, the quality and efficacy of fracking considerably improved. Unfortunately, until the present, the benefits and costs of hydraulic fracturing have been considered mainly in terms of their environmental risks (Wilkinson, 2012). As a result, the health consequences of workers’ exposure to silica during fracking have been persistently overlooked. Today, workers’ exposure to silica during hydraulic fracturing is one of the biggest occupational health concerns. Last year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an official note to confirm the dangers of workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica. In light of these issues, every employer should reduce the risks of health complications that result from workers’ continuous participation in fracking procedures.
Hydraulic Fracturing: The Basics
To understand how crystalline silica impacts workers’ health, the basics of the hydraulic fracturing process should be explained. According to Esswein, Kiefer, Snawder, and Breitenstein (2012), “hydraulic fracturing is the process of injecting large volumes of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground at high pressure to break up shale formation allowing more efficient recovery of oil and gas.” In other words, hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) is one of the most important procedures in good stimulation, which is used to facilitate gas and oil recovery. Fracking had been used in oil and gas drilling since the 1940s, but the emergence of new horizontal drilling technologies led to a substantial increase in fracking procedures (Esswein et al., 2012). Unfortunately, it is not until very recently that the health impacts of hydraulic fracturing became a matter of occupational health concern.
Hydraulic fracturing by itself is not very dangerous. Rather, it is the use of crystalline silica that makes fracking so problematic. Many hydraulic fracturing processes are impossible without silica. At each stage of the fracking process, workers are exposed to hundreds of thousands of sand particles (Esswein et al., 2012). During fracking, large volumes of water are pumped into a well, to fracture the tight and shale formations that prevent the smooth flow of oil and gas (OSHA, 2012). As a result, all workers engaged in the process face equally high risks of exposure and related health complications.
Why Is Fracturing So Dangerous to Workers’ Health?
As stated earlier, it is not fracturing but the use of silica that raises the biggest occupational health concerns. Fracking involves large amounts of silica. At least four million pounds of sand are used to frack one well (Sturgis, 2012). Transporting, refilling, moving, and replacing silica create dangerous dust that is released into the air (OSHA, 2012). During hydraulic fracturing, workers can be exposed to one or more sources of silica. It can be the dust ejected from access ports and sand movers or the dust released along the sand transfer belt (OSHA, 2012). Whatever the source of silica dust, the risks of developing health complications are always high.
It is not a secret that continuous exposure to silica dust can lead to the development of silicosis. Silicosis is a lung disease that develops when workers inhale respirable crystalline silica and its dust (Esswein et al., 2012). Silicosis is both treatable and preventable. It develops only after prolonged exposure to silica dust, and its progress is quite slow (Esswein et al., 2012). Still, employers working in the oil and gas industry have few chances to avoid silicosis dangers. The rates of mortality of acute silicosis are quite high. Due to extensive silica dust exposures, workers can develop the symptoms of silicosis very quickly (Esswein et al., 2012). In these situations, chances to save the worker from death will be meager.
The most vulnerable to silicosis are the workers, who are directly exposed to silica dust due to their workplace obligations, such as tunnelers, sandblasters, and miners (Esswein et al., 2012). Silica is usually categorized as a lung carcinogen, which also means that it can lead to the development of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) (Esswein et al., 2012). Even renal disease and autoimmune diagnoses may have their roots in continuous exposure to silica dust (Esswein et al., 2012). Workers, who constantly deal with silica dust, also face higher risks of respiratory infections and tuberculosis (Esswein et al., 2012).
Fracturing and Silica Dust Dangers: Statistics and Research
The current statistics of silica dust exposure and related health complications are very unsatisfactory. According to Esswein et al. (2012) and OSHA (2012), 435,000 employees currently work in the U.S. oil and gas industry. Almost half of them can be exposed to excessive levels of silica dust (Actio, 2012). Between 2003 and 2009, the prevalence of occupational deaths in the oil and gas industry was 27.5 per 100,000 (Sturgis, 2012). This is seven times higher than the overall rates of fatality among all U.S. workers (Sturgis, 2012). Between 2003 and 2005, the rates of fatality among oil and gas workers increased 15 percent (Sturgis, 2012). Most probably, it is due to the lack of effective health protection measures that oil and gas industry workers face high risks of fatality and disease. 100 percent of the fracking sites tested during 2012 had their workers exposed to excessive concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (Sturgis, 2012). These data suggest that the oil and gas industry needs a profound change in its occupational health philosophy. The risks of health problems for the workers operating directly at the well are particularly high. The oil and gas industry should become more concerned about the health and future wellbeing of its workers. Today, numerous methods and models are available to employers, as they are striving to protect their workers from the most common health hazards.
Protecting Works from Occupational Hazards
The magnitude of the occupational health problems impacting workers in the oil and gas industry is difficult to overestimate. However, most employers have everything needed to protect their employees from the most common health hazards. Industrial enterprises in the oil and gas industry can switch to less hazardous substances, which do not contain silica (Esswein et al., 2012). In addition, passive enclosures can and must be used at all points, where dust is generated (Esswein et al., 2012). Employers can also use screw augers instead of traditional transfer belts on sand movers when it is possible and cost-effective. According to Esswein et al. (2012), it is a relevant prevention-through-design consideration, and it does have the potential to reduce the scope of health complications in workers, who are exposed to silica dust.
In addition, employers working in the oil and gas industry must constantly monitor the quality of air in the workplace and reduce workers’ exposure to silica dust with the help of safe work practices (OSHA, 2012). To monitor and control the quality of air, employers can collect dust samples at the site. The results will show whether any of the current workers are exposed to the levels of respirable silica dust above the limits of exposure (OSHA, 2012). Yet, at all times, it is through education and training that the most prevalent occupational hazards can be successfully addressed. OSHA (2012) recommends implementing an education and communication program for workers. The importance of such programs is justified by the fact that workers have the right to know what substances they are being exposed to, how these substances impact their health, and how to avoid these damaging impacts.
Conclusion
Workers’ exposure to silica dust is one of the most prevalent occupational health concerns facing the oil and gas industry. Thousands of workers in the oil and gas industry are subjected to unreasonably high concentrations of silica dust. The problem is particularly complicated for the employees, who participate in hydraulic fracturing. Silica dust increases employees’ vulnerability to lung and autoimmune diseases. Still, most employers in the oil and gas industry have everything needed to deal with these challenges. Air monitoring, prevention through design, education, and training can alleviate the burden of silicosis and other lung diseases in workers. All employees should have access to occupational training and safety information because they have the right to know what substances they are exposed to and how to prevent the most common occupational health risks.
References
Actio. (2012). Fracking workers exposed: Crystalline silica. Actio. Web.
Esswein, E., Kiefer, M., Snawder, J. & Breitenstein, M. (2012). Worker exposure too crystalline silica during hydraulic fracturing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
OSHA. (2012). Worker exposure to silica during hydraulic fracturing.Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Web.
Sturgis, S. (2012). Institute index: Fracking’s dangers for workers. Facing South. Web.
Wilkinson, C. (2012). Fracking concerns turn to worker health hazards and potential silica exposure. Forbes. Web.