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COMPLIANCE SECTION
OSHA’s Silica Standard—Are you ready?
Silica became one of OSHA’s Special Emphasis Programs (SEPs) in 1996 and is likely to be a priority for the year 2001. OSHA believes that the current Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for silica may not be adequate to protect workers from a significant risk of silicosis, lung cancer and other diseases. The Bush Administration has not yet issued its regulatory agenda; following this, it is expected that a new silica standard will be proposed along with a new PEL for silica. At present, OSHA has not made any preliminary statements about what changes, if any, they will make to the PEL.
Industry leaders and advocates are speculating that the new standard will conform with the ACGIH TLV of 0.05 mg/m3. This reduced standard is expected to present challenges to industries that include, but are not limited to:
- Construction (sandblasting, rock drilling, masonry work, jack hammering, tunneling);
- Mining (cutting or drilling through sandstone and granite);
- Foundry work (grinding, moldings, shakeout, core room);
- Ceramics, clay and pottery;
- Manufacturing of soaps and detergents;
- Stone Cutting (sawing, abrasive blasting, chipping, grinding);
- Glass manufacturing;
- Shipbuilding (abrasive blasting);
- Railroad (setting and laying track);
- Manufacturing and use of abrasives, and others.
OSHA estimates that more than two million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica. According to some research, overexposure to respirable crystalline silica may cause silicosis, a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease. Other diseases such as bronchitis and tuberculosis have been associated with the inhalation of crystalline silica.
Several engineering and administrative controls have been incorporated in programs to minimize and control crystalline silica exposures. The following are some examples:
- Installation of local exhaust systems;
- Ongoing personal air monitoring program and medical surveillance program;
- Training and information to workers on crystalline silica;
- An effective respiratory protection program;
- Appropriate record keeping;
- Keeping personal exposures below the PEL or an abatement program including engineering controls that also provides for interim worker protection; and
- In construction fields, a health and safety program.
As the standard has not yet been proposed, the exact implications are not yet known.
SUMMARY
OSHA’s revised PEL for crystalline silica may impact the way you do business. It is important for companies to think ahead as to what sort of changes to their operations may need to be made and/or what monitoring should be conducted to identify the current conditions in the plant. If you have questions about how you can identify risks for respirable silica exposure in your plant, please contact Dan Woody or Emily Rynders at (513) 489-2255 or via e-mail at dtw@paynefirm.com or ear@paynefirm.com. This and other Environmental Edge topics are available at our website: www.paynefirm.com.
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