Silica Exposure Safety: Mini-baghouse Systems and Methods for Controlling Particulate Release from Large Sand Transfer Equipment
- In situ data available (on-site)
- Prototype
In the U.S., most new oil and gas wells are hydraulically fractured to enhance well production. Most hydraulic fracturing operations have 2-5 sand movers on-site that transfer thousands to millions of pounds of silica sand during each stage of fracturing. While a variety of passive and active controls are currently available (or have been proposed) to limit release of silica-containing dusts, the CDC/NIOSH mini-baghouse retrofit assembly was designed to fill a unique need for a control. The retrofit to equipment can be made in the field, uses existing energy inherent in the system and is relatively simple and effective. CDC/NIOSH field research has shown that risks for exposure to respirable silica arise from at least 8 points of dust generation and that a variety of controls (engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment) are needed to control exposures. Use of the mini-baghouse retrofit technology is intended to limit release of respirable silica from thief hatches on top of the sand movers, enhancing workplace health and safety.
- Controlling occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica, particularly during work involving transfer of sand into sand movers on hydraulic fracturing sites
- In-field retrofits of currently operating heavy equipment (e.g., sand movers)
- Limiting visible dust emissions from sand moving equipment
- Reducing respirable crystalline silica dust emissions to enhance compliance with OSHA PEL for silica
- Designed for in-field retrofitting “thief hatches” of existing machinery
- Uses energy inherent in the pneumatic transfer of sand
- Provides a passive sand-mover-mounted control for silica release at hydraulic fracturing operations