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ARTICLE · 04 APRIL 2016

Final OSHA Rule for Silica Published

Day Pitney LLP
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On March 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a final rule establishing a new permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Elizabeth Barton
Elizabeth Barton
Harold Blinderman
Harold Blinderman
Patrick McCarthy
Patrick McCarthy
Michael Miller
Michael Miller
Arielle Sepulveda
Arielle Sepulveda
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On March 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a final rule establishing a new permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift. According to OSHA, industries and operations in which exposure may occur include, among others, construction, foundries, jewelry production, ready-mix concrete, cut stone and stone products, railroad track maintenance, hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas production, and abrasive blasting. 

This final rule has been a long time in the making. Employer requirements pertain to exposure assessment, exposure control, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, hazard communication and recordkeeping. OSHA estimates 2 million construction workers and as many as 300,000 workers in general industry operations are exposed to respirable crystalline silica. 

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