On June 25, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a  designed to ensure uniformity in inspection and enforcement procedures when addressing respirable crystalline silica exposures in general industry, maritime and construction.

According to a , the new directive provides OSHA compliance safety and health officers with guidance on how to enforce the silica standard’s requirements, including:

• Methods of compliance;
• Table 1 tasks and specified exposure control methods;
• Exposure assessments;
• Housekeeping;
• Respiratory protection;
• Regulated areas;
• Recordkeeping;
• Employee information and training;
• Medical surveillance; and
• Communication of hazards.           

Additionally, the discusses alternative exposure control methods when a construction employer does not fully and properly implement , variability in sampling, multiemployer situations and temporary workers.

On Oct. 15, 2019, ABC  as part of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition on OSHA’s Request for Information on of the agency’s . Silica remains a top priority for ABC.

More information on the crystalline silica standards for general industry, maritime and construction can be found on the .

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓwill continue to keep members informed of any developments on the silica rulemaking in .