Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes, and adoption of preventive measures during abrasive blasting

Project IRSST

Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes, and adoption of preventive measures during abrasive blastingMario Roy, Anne-Marie Robert, Lucie Fortier, Danielle Giroux / Université de Sherbrooke

IRSST publications Scientific publications and communications

0093-0780 : Completed

The results of this comprehensive tripartite Québec-wide study indicate that siliceous abrasives, responsible for several cases of blasting-related silicosis, dominate the abrasive market by a wide margin, as they are markedly less expensive than alternatives. Although the adoption of non-recyclable substitutes would not engender any additional direct or indirect conversion costs, users indicated that they would not voluntarily adopt these less toxic substitutes as long as their competitors continued to use siliceous abrasives.

Analysis of 12 workplaces shed light on workers' beliefs about preventive behaviours during abrasive blasting: 84% of users saw no link between abrasive blasting and silicosis. Reflecting this finding, many workers adopt high-risk behaviours which they nevertheless believe to be safe. In all, 56.9% of the 187 respondents thought that elimination of siliceous products would have no economic effect on their company. The authors conclude that the elimination of these products is best way to effect source reduction of the risk of developing silicosis in abrasive blasting operations.

IRSST publications
Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting)
Études et recherches / Rapport R-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 40 pages. Free download More Info

Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet - Outils de collecte de données (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes, and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting - Data collection tools)
Études et recherches / Annexe RA1-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 40 pages. Free download More Info

Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet - Unités mobiles de sablage au jet (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting - Mobile sand blasting units)
Études et recherches / Annexe RA2-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 50 pages. Free download More Info

Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet - Rénovation générale de produits de métal (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting - General renovation of metal products)
Études et recherches / Annexe RA3-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 45 pages. Free download More Info

Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet - Marquage du granit (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting - Granite marking )
Études et recherches / Annexe RA4-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 40 pages. Free download More Info

Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet - Réusinage de produits de métal (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting - Remachining of metal products)
Études et recherches / Annexe RA5-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 60 pages. Free download More Info

Roy, Mario; Fortier, Lucie; Robert, Anne-Marie; Giroux, Danielle
Choix d'abrasifs, acceptabilité des substituts de la silice et adoption de mesures préventives lors du sablage au jet - Grande entreprise manufacturière et construction (Selection of abrasives, acceptability of silica substitutes and adoption of preventive measures in abrasive blasting - Large manufacturing and construction company )
Études et recherches / Annexe RA6-149, Montréal, IRSST, 1997, 40 pages. Free download More Info

Scientific publications and communicationsGiroux D., Roy M., Fortier L.

Silicose et sablage au jet
Travail et santé, vol. 13, no 4, décembre 1997, p. S25-S28.

Roy M.

Le sablage au jet, la silicose et le tabou du bannissement
Travail et santé, vol. 13, no 2, juin 1997, p. S8-S9.