What is OSHA’s Proposed Crystalline Silica Rule?

Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe environment for their workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exists to enforce this responsibility and sets certain regulations regarding our nation’s workplaces. One of these new rules is set to benefit some of our nation’s most vulnerable workers – those employed by the construction industry.

Construction is one of our nation’s most important professions, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. Workers are prone to injuries from heavy machinery, falls, and even electrocution – but there are also other occupational hazards, such as exposure to dangerous substances. One of the most common – and most dangerous hazards – is silica dust. A new rule from OSHA aims to address the dangers of silica dust and protect construction industry workers.

What Does the New Rule Entail?

Workers who engage in undertakings that create silica dust (also called “respirable crystalline silica”) are in danger of health problems. The new OSHA rule states that those who work under these circumstances – for example, cutting concrete, brick, and stone – must have additional protections that minimize the inhalation of this silica dust. Reducing the inhalation of silica particles can help reduce the risk of occupational injury and the negative health outcomes that accompany such exposure.

The Dangers of Silica Dust

The biggest reason for passing this new regulation is to prevent silicosis, which is a serious and incurable lung disease that can prove fatal. Silica exposure can also lead to other dangerous and life-threatening diseases including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease.

This is not the first time OSHA has stepped in to address the negative effects of silica. In fact, these detrimental health effects have been long known for a long time. Exposure to asbestos, a silicate that was used extensively in home-building as a flame retardant in the 1940s, has been linked to the lung cancer mesothelioma. While asbestos is no longer used, remodeling older homes can expose it – and workers – to dust that can lead to disastrous consequences. For that reason, workers must follow strict procedures and protective measures when working on homes or buildings that might contain asbestos.

Now, OSHA is taking existing standards a step further and attempting to limit all exposure to breathable silica. The new standard requires that silica particles be limited to 50 micrograms of air per cubic meter over 8 hours. The previous standard was 250 micrograms. Companies that do not comply could face fines up to $12,675, and up to $126,749 for repeated or purposeful violations.

What This Means for Workers

The new rule signals many positive changes for workers: First, those who work around breathable silica dust will enjoy a safer work environment. OSHA expects the new rule to reduce the incidence of occupational lung disease and cancer. If you incur an injury at work resulting from silica inhalation, it might also be easier for you to gain compensation for the full extent of your injuries, pain, and suffering. In other words, the new OSHA regulation will make working in one of the nation’s most dangerous industries safer and more fulfilling.