Michael Mahooty is a Zuni stone carver who creates fetish carvings for income. His work involves risks like losing limbs from saws or grinders, eye injuries from flying stone chips, and lung diseases from silica dust. Long-term exposure to the dust and vibrations can also cause hearing loss and musculoskeletal disorders. To protect himself and the environment, he needs improved ventilation, personal protective equipment, funding for safety upgrades, and awareness of hazards like silicosis and noise-induced hearing loss.

1. Zuni Stone “Fetish”
Carving:
THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH KEEPING AN ECONOMY ALIVE.

2. The History Behind the Stone “Fetish”
Carving
 Stone “fetish” carvings
are believed to be ancient
animals turned into stone
that hold certain powers
when blessed.

3. The Meaning of the Stone “Fetish”
Carvings Acquired
 Wolves:
Protective & hunting animal of the East-Teacher, path finder on the never ending journey for survival.

4. The Meaning of the Stone “Fetish”
Carvings Acquired
 Owl:
Keeper of the night, controls the dark side of nature, wise, smart, patient, & endurance
of the mind.

5. The Meaning of the Stone “Fetish”
Carvings Acquired
Mountain Lion:
Protective & hunting animal of the North. Protects travelers & considered elder brother of all the
other protective and hunting animals.

6. Michael Mahooty: The Artisan
 1 of the 600 fetish carvers on the
Zuni reservation.
 Income relies on the sales of his
well carved stone fetishes.

7. Michael Mahooty’s Work Shop Hazards
 Loss of Limb
 Eye Hazards
 Harm from Particular Matter
Musculoskeletal Disorders
 Hearing Loss
Environmental Degradation

8. Loss of Limbs, Cuts, & Pinch Hazards
 Slipping and cutting off a finger or hand during the stone cutting process by using rotatory saw.
 Pinching, cutting, or loss of limb during the grinding and shaping of the stone process by use of
grinder.
Pinching or cutting during the buffing/polishing of the stone process by use of buffer.

9. Eye Hazards
 Loss of eye, cuts to eye, and extreme irritation.
 Stone could break off and fly into the eye.
 Dust created by the process will get into the eye without proper PPE causing eye irritation.

10. Particular Matter Hazards
 Silicosis- Chronic Silicosis, Accelerated Silicosis, & Acute Silicosis
Pneumoconiosis- The scar tissue that develops impairs the ability of the lungs to function
properly.
Irritation- Inflammation and swelling of the mucous membranes & rashes developing on the
skin.

11. Musculoskeletal Disorders
Vibration-induced white finger (VWF)
Raynaud's phenomenon
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

12. Hearing Loss
 Permanent Hearing loss can occur with prolonged to exposure to 90 Decibels or more.

13. Environmental Degradation
Potential environmental impacts from dust include:
surface and groundwater quality deterioration, soil contamination, toxicity to soil and water
biota, air pollution, accumulation in soils, changes in hydrologic characteristics of the soils, and
impacts on native flora and fauna populations.

14. Mitigation
 Guards when plausible and Gloves when not.
 NIOSH approved respirator to protect lungs & Ear Plugs to protect hearing.
 Local Exhaust System to rid the air of dust.
Tribal Funding in order to protect livelihood, prevent loss of life and disease.

15. Works Cited
“Health in Lapidary.” Miner Matters. 8 April 2015. <http://minermattersgazette.com/?p=31>
“More on (traditional) stone carving and lung hazards HazArt.” Biocultural Science and Management. 8 April 2015.
<https://13c4.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/more-on-traditional-stone-carving-and-lung-hazards-hazart/>
“Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in OSHA Region 10: Safety and Health Surveillance Indicators 2000-2005.” University of Washington.
<http://depts.washington.edu/nwcohs/documents/ohindicatorsregion10.pdf>
“OSH Answers Fact Sheets.” Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. 8 April 2015.
<http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/vibration/vibration_effects.html>
“OSHA Fact Sheet.” OSHA. 8 April 2015.<https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/crystalline-factsheet.pdf>
“Potential Environmental Impacts of Dust Suppressants: Avoiding Another Times Beach.” EPA.
8 April 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/esd/cmb/pdf/dust.pdf>
“TRADITIONAL SCULPTURE HAZARDS.” The University of Illinois at Chicago. 8 April 2015. <http://www.uic.edu/sph/glakes/harts1/HARTS_library/sculpturehazards.txt>
“Why is Silica Hazardous?” Work Safety with Silica. 8 April 2015.
<http://www.silica-safe.org/know-the-hazard/why-is-silica-hazardous>