Finding of Emergency Section 5204 , Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica Business Meeting : December 14 , 2023 Page 32 of 36
10 . Providing a means for Cal / OSHA to quickly identify RCS hazards and efficiently stop certain operations in a shop or shut down the shop itself , pending abatement of those hazards .
For these reasons , the proposed regulation is expected to substantially reduce the number of silicosis cases in California . This in turn will reduce the financial costs associated with medical care , lost wages and benefits , lost lifetime productivity , and premature disability and death that result from silicosis , all of which are borne by employees , their families , employers , insurers and public benefits programs .
Thus , the benefits of the proposed emergency regulation are two-fold :
1 ) Non-monetary benefits , including a reduction in the pain and suffering associated with disease , disability and premature death for those affected , directly or indirectly , by silicosis and other RCS-attributable diseases ; and 2 ) Monetary benefits , including lowered costs to employers , insurers , employees , their families and public benefits programs .
Evaluation of Inconsistency / Incompatibility with Existing State Regulations
Under LC 142.3 , the Board is the only agency in the state authorized to adopt occupational safety and health standards . The Board has reviewed existing regulations on this topic and has concluded that the proposed regulations are not inconsistent or incompatible with existing state regulations .
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None .
TECHNICAL , THEORETICAL , OR EMPIRICAL STUDIES , REPORTS , OR DOCUMENTS RELIED UPON
The Board has relied upon the following documents as part of this emergency action :
1 . National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ( NIOSH ) ( 2002 ). Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica ( publication no . 2002 – 129 ); April 2002 . https :// www . cdc . gov / niosh / docs / 2002-129 / default . html . Accessed April 26 , 2023 .