Risk & Business Magazine Spectrum Insurance Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 28

OSHA’S CRYSTALLINE SILICA RULE
OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Rule
A
bout 2 million construction
workers are exposed to
respirable crystalline silica
in over 600,000 workplaces.
OSHA estimates that more
than 840,000 of these workers are
exposed to silica levels that exceed the new
permissible exposure limit (PEL).
Exposure to respirable crystalline silica
can cause kidney disease, silicosis, lung
cancer and other respiratory diseases. Here
is some common construction equipment
that can expose workers to dangerous
levels of silica:
Masonry saws
Grinders
Drills
Jackhammers
Handheld powered chipping tools
Vehicle-mounted drilling rigs
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Milling equipment
Crushing machines
Heavy demolition equipment
The construction standard does not apply
in situations where exposures will remain
low under any foreseeable conditions. This
includes tasks such as mixing mortar,
pouring concrete foundation walls and
removing concrete formwork.
WHAT DOES THE STANDARD REQUIRE?
The standard requires that employers limit
worker exposure to respirable crystalline
silica and take other steps to protect
workers.
The standard provides flexible alternatives,
especially useful for small employers.
Employers can either use a control method
laid out in Table 1 of the construction
standard, or they can measure worker
exposure to silica and independently decide
which dust controls work best to limit
exposures to the PEL in their workplaces.
OSHA IS ISSUING
A STANDARD TO
PROTECT WORKERS
FROM EXPOSURE
TO RESPIRABLE
CRYSTALLINE
SILICA AND ALLOW
EMPLOYERS TO
TAILOR SOLUTIONS
TO THE SPECIFIC
CONDITIONS IN THEIR
WORKPLACES.