OSHA Publishes Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime.  View OSHA’s web page dedicated to the new rule here.

KEY PROVISIONS

COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE

Both standards contained in the final rule take effect on June 23, 2016., after which industries have one to five years to comply with most requirements, based on the following schedulesmall>[1]

Construction – June 23, 2017, one year after the effective date.

General Industry and Maritime – June 23, 2018, two years after the effective date.

Hydraulic Fracturing – June 23, 2018, two years after the effective date for all provisions except Engineering Controls, which have a compliance date of June 23, 2021.


Copyright Holland & Hart LLP 1995-2025.
National Law Review, Volume VI, Number 88