In the United States, over one million workers are exposed to crystalline silica, and of these workers over 300 die of silicosis every year. Although there is no cure for silicosis, it is an unnecessary and preventable disease.

Silicosis is a disease of the lungs results from prolonged exposure to silica dust or crystalline silica. Silica is the most common mineral found in the earth’s crust and is a key element making up sand, rock and ore.

The work that poses the highest risk of inhaling silica dust includes: construction (sandblasting, masonry work, abrasive drilling), stone cutting (sawing, hammering, chipping), glass manufacturing, mining (drilling sandstone and granite), agriculture (dusty conditions due to plowing or harvesting), foundry work (grinding, blasting), shipbuilding (abrasive blasting, paint stripping), railroad construction (laying track) and manufacturing (of soaps and detergent).

When workers inhale silica dust, the lung tissues react to it by developing fibrotic nodules and scarring around the silica particles. If the nodules grow too large, it inhibits breathing, and can cause tuberculosis, bronchitis and even death.

One of the issues facing silicosis is the fact that many workers and employers are not aware of the problem and thus the solutions to stop the spread of silicosis. One of the problems with silica dust is that it is so fine that it is invisible to the naked eye, and so light that it can remain airborne for a long time. Also, the disease is irreversible and continues to progress, even when exposure to silica dust is stopped. Therefore, preventing the exposure to silica dust in the first place is of utmost importance.

Although the time scale between exposure and symptoms can be several years, cases have been brought against employers or former employers for negligence in preventing this disease. If you feel that you have contracted silicosis as a result of unreasonable exposure to dust, or as a result of a company’s failure to take proper precautions and warn its employees on correct safety procedure, you may have a case against them for compensation.