A move last week by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will delay enforcement of OSHA’ssilica rule for the construction industry for another 30 days – to Oct. 23. The DOL said the delay was necessary because of the “dramatic” reduction in the exposure limit – from 250 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift. Safety advocates charge that pushing back enforcement will result in more worker fatalities and illnesses.
OSHA issued its final rule protect to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica in an effort to reduce rates of lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease among the 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces. Exposure often occurs as workers drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and engage in brick manufacturing and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.