On March 24, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized its existing standards for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. OSHA has determined that employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica at the previous permissible exposure limits face a significant risk of developing silicosis, and other non-malignant respiratory diseases, lung cancer and kidney diseases. This final rule establishes a new permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average in all industries covered by the rule. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime, in order to tailor requirements to the circumstances found in these sectors.  Both standards take effect on June 23, 2016.

Join Trinity Consultants and SafeBridge, as we discuss the regulatory implications of OSHA's Final Respirable Crystalline Silica Rule on your operations and develop compliance strategies. We will discuss the key provisions of the rule, compliance schedule and appropriate compliance strategies.