OSHA’s NEW Crystalline Silica Rule for Construction-

Is your Company Prepared?

Construction employers must comply with all requirements of the standard by September 23, 2017.

OSHA has issued a new standard to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica in order to allow employers to tailor solutions to the specific conditions in their workplaces.  About two 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).

The construction standard does not apply where exposures will remain low under any foreseeable conditions; for example, when only performing tasks such as mixing mortar; pouring concrete footers, slab foundation and foundation walls; and removing concrete formwork.

The standard requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. It 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 workers’ exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures to the PEL in their workplaces. You can view a complete version of Table 1 at https://www.osha.gov/silica/SilicaConstructionRegText.pdf

Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to:

• Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers, including procedures to restrict access to work areas where high exposures may occur.

• Designate a competent person to implement the written exposure control plan.

• Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers where feasible alternatives are available.

• Offer medical exams every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year.

• Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure.

• Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams.