The occupational safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began enforcement of its final crystalline sillica standard on Saturday, September 23, 2017 after a three month delay.
The silica rule, which has been in the works since 2013, is intended to limit workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for workers to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift. It also requires employers to implement engineering controls, offer medical exams and develop control plans related to the issue.
