The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a rule meant to protect workers from inhaling particles of crystalline silica created when cutting, sawing, grinding or drilling concrete or brick. Members of the construction industry are encouraged to participate in public hearings and provide comments.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a rule meant to protect workers from inhaling particles of crystalline silica created when cutting, sawing, grinding or drilling concrete or brick. Members of the construction industry are encouraged to participate in public hearings and provide comments.
Inhaling silica dust puts workers at risk for silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease.
The rule would cap the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for all industries at 50 micrograms of respirable silica per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour day. The rule includes provisions for measuring the amount of silica workers are exposed to, limiting workers' access to areas where silica exposures are high, using methods for reducing exposure and providing medical exams.
The National Association of Home Builders, part of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, has expressed concern about what it calls "one-size-fits-all measures" that do not take the variety of construction tasks into account. In a press release, the association argued, "spraying water to reduce dust may be practical in some construction projects, but using it inside a home while cutting granite counters can cause mold … Ventilation and dust-capture systems can inhibit the safe operation of tools. And if prescribed measures are not practicable, contractors might be forced to eliminate products with silica altogether, including concrete, brick, granite, and other common construction materials."
More information about the proposed rule is available at www.osha.gov/silica. The Public Participation tab offers ways to influence the future rule.