In a Department of Labor January 23rd press release, after consulting with both Union & Industry stakeholders OSHA published a list of Frequently Asked Questions as it relates to the respirable crystalline silica standard for the general industry. The FAQ is organized by topic providing advisory to employers and works on the standard’s requirements including exposure assessment, hazard communication and various methods of compliance. They frame the FAQ into 64 questions & answers. To access the FAQ simply CLICK HERE.
Crystalline silica is a carcinogen found in sand, stone, and artificial stone. It can cause silicosis which involves the scarring of lungs. According to OSHA 2.3 million workers are exposed to silica dust each year which is why they first published the rile March 25, 2016. Further, OSHA released a set of compliance assistance resources in August of 2018 which can be found HERE.
This information can be helpful for workers that may not know they are constantly exposed to crystalline silica. This information can also be useful to employers who may now be in violation of potential unsafe work condition regulations, and can now make changes to the workplace accordingly.
If you still have any questions regarding this issuance, contact us at our website here.
