The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced a final rule to improve protections for workers exposed to respirable silica dust.
OSHA says the rule will help prevent lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease in workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The final rule is written as two standards, one for construction and one for general industry and maritime.
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.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jan 3, 2022
Controversial California solar power incentive proposal would reduce subsidies
Plan intended to encourage customers to install power storage systems.
Codes and Standards | Jan 3, 2022
New York City bans new gas hookups
Applies to gas stoves, boilers, and heaters in new buildings and buildings that undergo gut renovations.
Codes and Standards | Jan 3, 2022
New engineering guide on fire safety for very tall buildings released
Topics include emergency egress, fire resistance, building envelope, suppression, detection, alarms, and smoke control.
Codes and Standards | Dec 22, 2021
Updated ASCE 7-22 standard includes first-ever criteria for tornado-resistant design
New document provides up-to-date, coordinated loading provisions for general structural design.
Codes and Standards | Dec 21, 2021
Outdated and redundant building codes plague St. Louis area development
Region’s combined codes nearly double the length of the IRS Code.
Digital Twin | Dec 20, 2021
Groups ally to advance augmented reality and digital twin technology
AREA and Digital Twin Consortium to work on improving how technology components interoperate.
Codes and Standards | Dec 20, 2021
Tension rises in California over state’s push to build more housing
Attorney general hints at lawsuits against cities that don’t comply with zoning reform.
Codes and Standards | Dec 17, 2021
Tension rises in California over state’s push to build more housing
Attorney general hints at lawsuits against cities that don’t comply with zoning reform.
Codes and Standards | Dec 16, 2021
Home builders defeat proposed Oklahoma energy conservation code upgrade
Builders cite high home prices for opposition.
Codes and Standards | Dec 16, 2021
Laws and regulations complicate growth of community solar gardens
New projects stymied by utility resistance and legislative restrictions.