Silicosis?

The EPA made some kind of regulatory change to address respiratory exposure of silica sand a few years ago which resulted in a shift from pneumatics to sandboxes.

As far as crude vapors go, you could wear a respirator if you're concerned about vapors. I guess leases up in ND don't use vapor recovery and tank climbing still a thing there?

 

You'll change your mind when you start driving around them.

You have to wear a respirator at leases with high H2S, so I don't see why it would be a problem for you to wear one at the other leases too.

What happened?

 

Don't be sili,,,cosis. Not sure if "blowing sand" is a big risk, I hauled silica sand to foundries, and workers that inhaled that fine mist of sand, were largely at risk. Same with crude oil, I think. Fumes aren't the same as up to your waist in it. Far as something in your blood 20 years from now, Burger King Whoppers are probably just as bad. There is a greater awareness to hazards on the job today, unlike years ago, when I was told to "just turn your head and hold your breath".

 

Did they not teach you to stand on the upwind side of the hatch before you open it?

Also, if you're going to a lease that has a lot of vapor pressure in the tanks, go to the farthest tank downwind and open its hatch so that the entire tank battery will depressurize before you open the hatch on the tank you're supposed to work.

Nowadays, more and more operators are starting to use LACT units which means you don't have to work a tank. And many of them also have vapor recovery, but for the ones that don't you can always hook up a hose to your vapor vent and run it out away from the trailer to keep the vapors away from your breathing zone - and the truck's intake.

 

They still blow sand, just way way less than before. Up here silica dust has been taken seriously since 2012.

I have noticed the big pneumatic company locally that had a bunch of hoods has a field full of trucks and cans. Not sure whats going on there. Their website says they are still hiring.

There is also a silo rental company that appears to not have many out on pads. Sandbox and hopper bottom are the main ones here in PA, OH and WV.

Nextier still runs cans. Have their own drivers in the T800’s they got from Trican. They have owner ops as well.

 

How do they unload a hopper bottom, slide a transloader under it?

 

I loaded off rail cars, and it's a bucket elevator. Makes a mess, if I remember.