Complying with the OSHA Silica Standards
Looking for resources on interpreting the crystalline silica standard?
When guarding against exposure to silica, the protection of our employees must remain the primary focus. However, protection of the “bottom line” should also play a part as OSHA has ramped up it’s enforcement of the standard (read: VA contractor faces $300K in fines over silica violations).
How do you effectively comply with the standard? ASSP recently released a resource entitled “Silica Resource Guide for Contractors” that provides a FAQ for the questions contractors are asking, including:
- when air sampling is required
- how to use “objective data”
- medical surveillance requirements
- respiratory protection requirements, etc.
Additionally, OSHA has released a 64- question FAQ for general industry on it’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standard (29 CFR 1910.1053) and a FAQ for the construction industry (29 CFR 1926.1153).