STANDARDS PRESENTATION Page 4 of 19 TO
CALIFORNIA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS BOARD
TITLE 8 , DIVISION 1 , CHAPTER 4
( B ) An employee with respirable crystalline silica exposure and radiological or other imaging findings suggestive of silicosis , regardless of symptoms , that is not yet a confirmed silicosis case ; or
( C ) An employee with respirable crystalline silica exposure with abnormal spirometry regardless of symptoms that is not yet a confirmed silicosis case .
( 16 ) “ This Section ” means this respirable crystalline silica standard , Section 5204 .
( 17 ) “ Wet Methods ” means effectively suppressing dust by one of the methods listed below . Regardless of the method used , water must cover the entire surface of the work object where a tool , equipment , or machine contacts the work object .
( A ) Applying a constant , continuous , and appropriate volume of running water directly onto the surface of the work object . When water flow is integrated with a tool , machine , or equipment , water flow rates shall equal or exceed manufacturer recommendations and specifications to ensure effective dust suppression .
( B ) Submersing the work object underwater . ( C ) Water jet cutting ( use of high pressure water to cut material ).
( c ) Permissible exposure limit ( PEL ). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 μg / m 3 , calculated as an 8-hour TWA .
( d ) Exposure assessment .
( 1 ) General . The employer shall assess the exposure of each employee who is or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in subsection ( d )( 2 ) or the scheduled monitoring option in subsection ( d )( 3 ). Regardless of exposures or expected exposures , all high-exposure trigger tasks shall be assessed by scheduled monitoring in accordance with subsection ( d )( 3 ).
( 2 ) Performance option . The employer shall assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data or objective data sufficient to accurately characterize employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica . Subsection ( d )( 2 ) does not apply to high-exposure trigger tasks ; these tasks shall be assessed by scheduled monitoring in accordance with subsection ( d )( 3 ).
( 3 ) Scheduled monitoring option .
OSHSB-98 ( 2 / 98 )