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OSHA Issues Final Rule on Exposure to Respirable Silica Exposure

OSHA Silica Exposure Regulations

On March 25, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a Final Rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica. The rule updated silica exposure regulations previously established in 1971 and reduced the permissible exposure limit for workers in construction, general industry and maritime.

Proponents for stricter regulations struggled for decades to improve the safety of workers in proximity of respirable crystalline silica. Occupational exposure to silica dust places workers at risk for serious diseases, including silicosis, lung cancer and kidney disease.

OSHA standards for construction (1926.1153) and general industry (1910.1053) require employers to protect workers from these hazards. This is achieved through specific requirements on the use of respiratory protection, safe work practices and engineering controls such as dust collection systems.

What Is Crystalline Silica and Why Is It Dangerous?

Crystalline silica is an abundant natural component of sand, stone, soil, concrete, brick, mortar, quartz and other construction materials. As workers cut, grind, drill, crush or otherwise alter these materials during construction work, they may be exposed to respirable, airborne silica particles.

General or maritime industry workers can also experience respirable silica exposure from abrasive blasting or during manufacturing or maintenance. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and have been found to cause dangerous and often fatal diseases including silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease.

Silicosis is a disease specifically caused by these silica particles for which there is no cure. Exposure to silica dust results in the formation of fibrosis or scar tissue formations in the lungs. Early stages of silicosis may go completely unnoticed, but routine exposure can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, fatigue, respiratory failure, and/or eventually death.

Silicosis also makes the exposed worker susceptible to other infectious lung diseases like tuberculosis. Early detection of silicosis is vital to saving lives and preventing further exposure.

OSHA's Crystalline Silica Final Ruling

The 2016 Final Rule introduced a wide range of regulatory changes related to silica. With the goal of providing increased protection to workers, the rule:

  • Set the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift.
  • Required employers to:
    • Use engineering controls (such as water or ventilation) to limit respirable silica exposure
    • Provide respirators when engineering controls cannot adequately limit exposure under the PEL
    • Limit worker access to high-exposure areas
    • Develop a written silica exposure control plan
    • Offer medical exams to highly exposed workers
    • Train workers on silica hazards, risks and methods of limiting exposure
    • Provide medical exams to monitor highly exposed workers and give them information about their lung health.
  • Provided flexibility and compliance assistance to help employers (especially small businesses) protect workers from silica exposure.

The Future of Silica Safety

Despite the fact that OSHA has issued a final rule, standards and employer requirements are always subject to change. To stay up to date on standards and compliance requirements for your industry, visit OSHA's Safety and Health Topics page for crystalline silica.

Most employers can comply with OSHA silica regulations by encouraging the use of respirators and safe work practices. One of the best ways to limit silica exposure is by using water to minimize airborne dust or by using a ventilation system to catch silica particulates. Personal Protective Equipment is also an important element of silica safety for workers performing tasks that may produce respirable silica.

In the end, the responsibility for silica safety lies in the hands of employers. By the time OSHA recognizes that a regulation has not been followed by a company, employees can already be in grave danger of fatal respiratory consequences.

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