The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released a guide detailing how to comply with changes to its Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for construction workers and, further, how to protect employees from hazards associated with exposure to the substance.
In March, OSHA lowered the permissible exposure limit to 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air during an eight-hour period for all industries. Previously it was 100 micrograms or 250 micrograms, depending on the industry.
Exposure can lead to medical problems that include lung cancer, kidney disease and chronic bronchitis.
The rule goes into effect June 23, 2017. A copy of the guide can be found here.
