Personal exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust at selected coal fired power stations in Bethal, Mpumalanga province

Coal-fired power stations comprise of industries that burn coal to produce steam for the primary purpose of electricity generation. The burning of coal releases several pollutants that are known to cause climate change and global warming. Workers in coal-fired power stations engage in a range of work tasks or processes which may involve handling or exposure to respirable dust, including coal dust, crystalline silica dust or coal fly ash. Recent studies have shown that crystalline silica exposure remains one of the detrimental concerns in mining, construction and general industry. A quantitative study was conducted to determine employees’ level of exposure to respirable crystalline silica at a coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. A total of 34 employees participated in the study. The study revealed that the male employees (n=26) were most predominant in the coal handling plant as compared to the females (n=6). This study determined that the mean exposure value of 0.969 mg/m³ for respirable coal dust was below the recommended occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m³, while mean exposure value for crystalline silica was 0.184 mg/m³ exceeding the recommended OEL of 0.1 mg/m³ as adopted by the South African department of labour (DoL). Results from this study confirm occupational exposure to crystalline silica is a well-established hazard in the mining industry therefore, the use of personal protective equipment is highly recommended.