SILICA STANDARD
BY: JEFF RUSSELL, JD
BOWEN MICLETTE & BRITT
What You Need to Know About The
New Silica Standard
T
here are so many questions
about the new OSHA
silica standard issued on
September 23, 2017—in
order to reduce worker
exposure to crystalline silica—that
trying to understand the new standards
may leave you a bit perplexed. The Risk
Management Department at BMB has
compiled the following information in an
attempt to minimize the confusion.
WHAT IS SILICA?
Silica, which is a component of sand
and stone, is found in materials such
as concrete, brick, building blocks, and
mortar. Employees may be exposed to
crystalline silica during many common
construction tasks such as cutting,
sawing, drilling as well as the crushing
of concrete, brick, block, rock, drywall,
cement siding, and stone products.
THE NEW SILICA STANDARD
OSHA made a few key changes to the
previous silica standard. Employers must
•
reduce the permissible exposure
limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline
silica to 50 micrograms per cubic
meter of air averaged over an eight-
30
hour shift, with the Action Level set
at 25 micrograms per cubic meter of
air (micrograms per cubic meter of
air is read as μg/m3); 2. Provide objective data proving the
control method used reduces silica dust
exposure below the permissible exposure
level (50 μg/m3)
• use engineering controls (such as
water or ventilation) to limit worker
exposure to the PEL; • provide respirators when engineering
controls cannot adequately limit
exposure; • limit worker access to high exposure
areas; 3. Maintain a scheduled air monitoring
program by assessing exposure to ensure
employees are not exposed above 50 μg/
m3 over a time-weighted average of eight
hours in a worst-case scenario. Testing
and information is usually compiled by
the employer or a third party.
• develop a written exposure control
plan; • train workers on silica risks and how
to limit exposures; and • provide medical exams to monitor
highly exposed workers and give
them information about their lung
health.
OSHA has provided three options to
employers for compliance:
1. Use one of the pre-defined applications
and approved control solutions as shown
on Table 1 located at www.osha.gov/
silica/Table1sect1926.1153.pdf and on
page 31 of this magazine
Table 1 lists tasks and equipment-control
methods that OSHA has determined
will reduce exposure to acceptable levels.
An employer that fully implements a
Table 1 equipment-control option for
a corresponding task will not have to
perform air monitoring for that task.
The table notes if and when respiratory
protection is required. The respiratory
protection requirements are linked to the
length of time a task is performed, with
some differences for when tasks take up
to four hours and when tasks take more
than four hours.
When a contractor properly implements
a solution from Table 1—in other words