OSHA finalizes new silica dust regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a final rule to improve protections for workers exposed to respirable silica dust. Construction companies have until June 23, 2017 to comply with most requirements. New requirements include:

• Reducing the permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift.
• Mandating employers to use engineering controls (such as water or ventilation) and provide respiratory protection when controls are not able to limit exposures to the permissible level
• Limit access to high exposure areas
• Train workers
• Provide medical exams to highly exposed workers.

OSHA says the new regulations, which replace ones established in 1971, provide greater certainty and ease of compliance to construction employers – including many small employers – by including a table of specified controls they can follow to be in compliance without having to monitor exposures. More information is available here.