MCAA Releases Safety Bulletin on OSHA’s New Silica Standard

MCAA’s new safety bulletin on OSHA’s new silica rule is now available. The bulletin describes the key compliance requirements and also summarizes the entire standard, which was published in the Federal Register on March 25. The new standard becomes effective on June 23, but does not become enforceable in the construction industry until June 23, 2017. The new standard:

  • Reduces the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) by 80% from 250 ug/m3 to 50 ug/m3;
  • Establishes an Action Level (AL) of 25 ug/m3;
  • Requires affected employers to use engineering controls to limit exposures;
  • Requires respiratory protection when engineering controls are ineffective;
  • Requires affected employers to develop written exposure control plans;
  • Requires affected employers to train affected workers on the risks associated with silica and how they can limit their exposures; and
  • Requires affected employers to provide medical exams to highly exposed workers.

To learn more, please download the bulletin here.