Enforcement for New OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica Limits Starts June 23, 2018

As presented previously in our blog, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is establishing new 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m³, an action level (AL) of 25 µg/m³, and associated ancillary requirements. Pursuant to  29 CFR § 1910.1053, these become enforceable June 23, 2018.

Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil, sand, granite and many other minerals. Quartz is the most common form of crystalline silica. Silica exposure is a serious concern for workers engaged in activities such as abrasive blasting, foundry work, stonecutting, rock drilling, quarry work and tunneling. Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen.

A recent OSHA memo states that during the first 30 days of enforcement, OSHA will assist employers making a good-faith effort to comply with the standards. However, if an OSHA inspector concludes that a good-faith effort is NOT being made, a citation can be issued for non-compliance.

Consequently, BBJ Group urges all clients who may be subject to the new limits to make a good-faith effort to meet the new limits, if such efforts have not been made already.