Workers who cut countertops are dying of silicosis

Post by slumpt_ » Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 5:34 PM UTC

dang wrote: post #181

mabbo wrote: post #39

What I find interesting when comparing the US the Canada on topics like these is that in Canada, there is self-interest in demanding workers be protected. Like beyond the fact that it's a good thing you do. Because we have a public health care system, funded by taxes, having a large number of young men out of the work force (not paying taxes) and using the health care system effectively means my taxes, everyone's tax…

Please don't take HN threads on generic nationalistic flamewar tangents. I'm sure you didn't intend it, but that's what this leads to, in the statistical case. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Edit: we've had to ask you not to do this on HN more than once before. Please avoid it in the future. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34492512 (Jan 2023) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34073107 (Dec 2…

Post by Timshel » Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 5:35 PM UTC

WkndTriathlete wrote: post #330

goalieca wrote: post #322

> Pale dust rose around them as they worked. Many went without masks. Some had water spurting from their machines, but others had nothing to tamp down the powder rising in the air. Safety regulations need to be put in place with the cheapest being a good quality respirator.

Seriously disappointing that someone posting to HN can't be bothered to actually at least read the relevant Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis#Regulation_in_the_US TL;DR: it's already regulated (by OSHA). Total number of deaths annually by silicosis in the US is low (~15/year). The workers need to file an OSHA complaint if they haven't already.

Post by ike2792 » Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 5:37 PM UTC

Post by stephen_g » Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 5:39 PM UTC

jaclaz wrote: post #323

londons_explore wrote: post #167

I suspect that stone dust generally will be found to be similarly harmful to asbestos. Asbestos is apparently worse because of the sharp edges of the particles, but if I put any angle grinder dust under the microscope I see plenty of sharp bits too. I think the actually harmful thing is that the dust is 'fresh' rather than being the result of years of chemical weathering which tends to smooth off the sharpest pointie…

Yes, they are essentially the same: https://medlineplus.gov/interstitiallungdiseases.html

Post by sterlind » Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 5:46 PM UTC

alex_lav wrote: post #337

toomuchtodo wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Employers must provide PPE. Workers must wear it or be let go. This is not hard.

> Employers must provide PPE. Firing skilled laborers harms both the employer and the employee. > Workers must wear it or be let go. Firing skilled laborers harms both the employer and the employee. > This is not hard. It seems very hard.