Once breathed in, the crystalline particles travel deep into the most important operational parts of your lungs. It can also lead to other serious illnesses including lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Review this list of hardware and software requirements for field-based respirable crystalline silica monitoring. Silicosis is the most well-known of the health problems associated with silica dust exposure. Future releases of FAST will offer improved accuracy for commodity types besides coal. The possible presence of other minerals may decrease the accuracy of the quantification model, and the true result may be greater or less than the approximation. Therefore, for samples collected in mines other than coal, the results should be considered as approximations. Choosing a commodity prefixed with the type "other" means that no adjustments are made for other minerals that might be present in addition to crystalline silica. As detailed in the software guide, RCS results from this initial release of FAST are accurate if a sample is collected in a coal mine. Important Note for FAST users: FAST is designed to work in concert with an easily implemented monitoring approach developed by NIOSH which uses portable FTIR analyzers and dust sampling cassettes at the mine site. No specialized training in analytical techniques is necessary. Field-based monitoring and FAST can be used by anyone with an interest in evaluating RCS exposure but it is primarily intended for industrial hygienists and other workers with health and safety responsibilities, specifically within the mining industry (although workers in other industries will also find it useful). The results can contribute to decision-making to decrease worker exposure to RCS. The FAST (Field Analysis of Silica Tool) software processes raw Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data from field-based instruments and calculates an RCS mass and concentration estimate for each sample. This enhances the ability to collect data more effectively, enables better control over potential exposures, and protects worker health. By eliminating the time spent transporting samples and waiting for laboratory results, results are available the same or next day to allow operators to make decisions regarding controls. Field-based monitoring procedures offer a supplement to sample analysis completed by an off-site laboratory. Monitoring is an essential part of any RCS exposure control plan but the timeliness of data from the lab and the cumulative cost of analysis may limit the extent and the effectiveness of the monitoring process. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure occurs in many industries and the potential health effects of RCS have been well-documented. The full instructions for importing and exporting databases can be found in the FAST help guide. To ensure no loss of data, export existing databases before installing FAST v1.0.8.
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