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ARTICLE · 09 FEBRUARY 2016

OSHA's Silica Standard

Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren SC
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After a decade and a half of development, OSHA is reviewing comments and planning to issue the final rule for occupational exposure to crystalline silica (also known as silica dust) in February 2016...

United StatesEmployment and HR
Scott Prill
Scott Prill
Carolyn Sullivan
Carolyn Sullivan
John Zawadsky
John Zawadsky
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After a decade and a half of development, OSHA is reviewing comments and planning to issue the final rule for occupational exposure to crystalline silica (also known as silica dust) in February 2016, almost two-and-a-half years after proposing the final rule in September 2013.  The current version of the rule sets a permissible exposure limit ("PEL") for respirable crystalline silica of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air calculated as an eight‑hour time weighted average.  This PEL is lower than the current PEL for general industry (100 micrograms) and significantly lower than the current PEL for construction and ship yards (250 micrograms).  The Mine Safety and Health Administration is also planning on applying OSHA's proposed standard to airborne silica in mines.

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