With that cold wind blowing I couldn't walk. I was struggling just to move. The document describes 99 cases of silicosis among sandblasters. Unfortunately, these cases are not unique. The document describes the acute and chronic effects of silica exposure and outlines the crucial prevention steps.
Workers using silica sand for the purpose of abrasive blasting are at risk.
Abrasive blasting is the process of using compressed air or steam to forcefully project abrasive particles onto a surface. The process is frequently used to clean sand and irregularities from foundry castings, to clean and remove paint from metal surfaces, to finish tombstones, to etch or frost glass, and for artistic purposes. The silica sand used in blasting typically fractures into fine particles and becomes airborne. The worker then inhales the silica which becomes imbedded in the lungs. Most sandblasters continue to work without adequate respiratory protection, and workers near the sandblaster frequently wear no protection at all.