Silica Exposure - Artificial /Engineered Stone Countertops; How Big is the Problem?
Join this Workplace Health Without Borders webinar on Silica Exposure.
For the last 10 years we have known about the risk of silicosis to workers who sand, grind, and cut engineered/artificial stone countertops. This material contains more than 90% respirable crystalline silica and includes organic compounds such as phthalic anhydride. Learn more about these risks around the world.
Title: Part A - Artificial /Engineered Stone Countertops; How Big is the Problem?
Date: February 02, 2023
Time: 5:00-7:30pm EST
Agenda:
5:00-5:10 - Introduction and Welcome
Kevin Hedges (Canada) and David Goldsmith (US)
5:10-5:25 - World-wide countertop industry, Workers at risk, and cost of treatment
David Goldsmith (US)
5:25-5:40 Initial findings of countertop workers’ pulmonary health and treatment
M. Kramer (Israel)
5:40-6:00 Findings and policies in Australia
Graeme Edwards, Ryan Hoy (Australia)
6:00-6:20 Findings in US and California
Robert Harrison, Sheiphali Gandhi, Jane C. Fazio (US)
6:20-6:35 What is Being Done in UK and EU?
Susan Hambling (UK)
6:35-6:45 Application of the Silica Control Tool
Melanie Norman Ng (Canada)
6:45-6:55 Communicating Risk to Spanish-speaking workers
Alma Galvan (US)
6:55-7:05 Pathology Issues of Acute Silicosis
Jerrold Abraham (US)
7:05-7:30 Roundtable & Questions
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The second part of this webinar will share the lessons on characterizing and controlling exposures from Australia. It will compare different exposure control methodologies globally and utilize the silica control tool from BC Canada to understand how this tool drives prevention.
Title: Part B - Collectively what can we do to prevent the serious burden of morbidity and mortality from debilitating exposures, and what interventions and advocacy will work?
Date: February 13, 2023
Time: 4:00-6:30pm EST
Agenda:
4:00-4:10 - Introduction and Welcome
Kevin Hedges (Canada) and David Goldsmith (US)
4:10-4:30 - Review of previous global silica webinars, artificial / engineered stone and what we know so far
Kevin Hedges, WHWB international board member
4:30-5:00 - Working safely with engineered stone – a fabricators perspective
Jason Green WHWB Australia Branch Lead
5:00-5:30 - Utilizing the Canadian BC Safety Construction Alliance Silica Control Tool and recommended interventions from the tool
Dr. Melanie Gorman Ng (Canada)
5:30-6:00 - Panel discussion
What interventions are necessary to work safely with engineered stone in both developed and developing global economies and advocacy?
6:00-6:30 - Q&A
All attendees