What can small businesses expect from proposed silica rule?
And how much will compliance cost?
Among those who will be directly affected by OSHA’s proposed rule on crystalline silica exposures will be small businesses and their employees in industries like dental laboratories, foundries, and construction. The agency estimates that roughly 1.3 million workers are exposed to silica in about 470,000 small businesses. This includes 580,000 employees in about 356,000 very small businesses of fewer than 20 workers each.
OSHA says the rule is intended to minimize burdens on employers while maximizing protection for employees. Additionally, it “will offer small employers the flexibility to tailor solutions that fit their workplaces.”