Fracking: Potential Worker Exposure and Health Effects - Lynne Morgan - Safety & Health Expo 2014

BOHS – Occupational Hygiene 2014 – Session 14a: Fracking – Exploring potential health risks www.energyinst.org

Fracking –Potential Worker Exposure and Health EffectsMs Lynne Morgan

Energy Institute


• Noise exposure• Sources• Typical levels• Potential health effects• Mitigation measures, conflicts and challenges

• Crystalline silica exposure• Sources and higher risk activities• Possible silica levels (NIOSH field studies)• Health effects• Mitigation measures

Introduction


Typical site


Typical frack site


NOISE


• Drilling operations:• Noise sources - Mud shakers, drilling rig, power

generation• Noise level - 89-94dB(A)• Duration - Days/Weeks

• Fracking operations:• Noise sources - “Grizzly” pumps and gel blender.• Noise level - 94–104dB(A) • Duration - Varies (hours)

Noise sources


Halliburton HQ-2000 (Grizzly) pump

11 pumps used for the fracking of Z12250bhp turbocharged engineDimensions 11m x 3m x 4.5m

Noise sources


• Normal shift duration is 12hours

• Potential worker noise doses without PPE:• Drilling 96dB(A)• Fracking 106dB(A)

• If uncontrolled there is a significant potential for hearing damage, including:• Noise Induced Hearing Loss• Temporary Threshold Shift• Tinnitus

Potential health effects


• Control measures• Acoustic enclosures• Worker rotation• Ear defenders

• Challenges when controlling exposure:• Changing noise levels• Worker training and experience• Conflicting priorities

Mitigation measures and challenges


CRYSTALLINE SILICA


• Proppants are a solid materials, typically treated with sand or man made ceramic material designed used to keep the shale fractures open.

• Approximately 50 tonnes of proppants used.

• Two proppants were used (50:50)• 100 Mesh sand

• 99.9% Crystalline silica• Carbolite 40/70

• Ceramic proppant <1% Crystalline silica


• 2012 Hazard alert released by NIOSH and OSHA• Based on NIOSH field studies at 11 fracking sites in 5 states• 116 respirable crystalline silica samples

• UK exposure limit 0.1mg/m3 (8Hr TWA)


• Chronic inhalation of crystalline silica may lead to:• Silicosis

• Increase risk of tuberculosis and lung cancer• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease• Acute silicosis also possible but rare

• Personal exposure monitoring

• Health surveillance• Baseline testing, regular review• Risk assessment update


• Exposure to noise and crystalline silica have the serious potential to cause ill health in workers involved in shale gas exploration and production

• Understanding of hazards and the assessment of potential exposure is key to control of risks.

• Exposure monitoring and health surveillance data must feed back into risk assessment process.

• PPE and RPE should not be the default option for exposure control.

Fracking: Potential Worker Exposure and Health Effects - Lynne Morgan - Safety & Health Expo 2014

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