Current World Environment

Stone crushing industry plays a vital role in the economy and urban development of fast developing countries like India. Stone mines and crushers in India are located around major cities and roughly employ around 5,00,000 peoples throughout the country. However this employment generating industry also happens to be one of the most dust generating activity and also a precursor to the respiratory disease, silicosis. This study was undertaken with an objective to estimate the personal exposure of the workers to silica laden dust in this industry sector. Personal dust sampling (n=11) and (n=6)  was carried out in stone crushing and stone mining (quarry)areas respectively over a period of three consecutive days in selected units in a suburban area of Nalgonda district of Telangana state in India. The respirable dust exposure and free silica content was then estimated. It was observed that three (3) samples of crusher helper from the Crushing Unit had exposures exceeding the Permissible Limit Value (PLV) of Indian Factories Act1948. Two (2) Heavy Earth Moving Machineries (HEMM) operators from stone mining area were observed to have exceeded the Permissible Maximum Exposure Limit (PMEL) prescribed by the Indian Mines Act 1952 and subsequent rules their under. The remaining samples of HEMM operators from mining area and of the crusher helper from the crusher plant were observed to be within the prescribed limits of respective guidelines prescribed by the Indian statutory agencies. Two different acts were considered, because of the fact that stone mining is regulated by the Indian mining act and under the overall control of Directorate of Mines and Safety (DGMS), Government of India. On the other hand Crusher plant comes under the ambit of Model Factory Rule 120 under section 87 of Indian Factories Act 1948 under the overall control of Directorate General Factory Service and Labour Institute (DGFASLI) Government of India. Post the study it could be concluded that, stone crushers are dustier as compared to stone mining area. Workers in stone mining and crushing units of study area are indeed exposed to high levels of respirable and silica laden dust. It was observed that safety and precautionary measures towards dust and silica exposure are not implemented necessitating to be taken by unit operators.