Check out our new infographic on Silica from the Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health.
In March 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency within the United States Department of Labor, issued new rules to decrease exposure to silica in the workplace that will take effect June 23, 2016.
Crystalline silica is a mineral found in the earth and materials like sand, stone, rock, concrete, brick and mortar. When these materials are broken down, particles of silica that can be inhaled are released. Inhaled silica scars the lung tissue causing silicosis, which decreases the amount of oxygen the lungs can take in and increases the risk of other respiratory diseases, like tuberculosis and lung cancer. Silica exposure is also known to cause immune and kidney diseases.
Occupations that involve breaking down silica-containing products including construction, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, maritime, and hydraulic fracturing, put workers at a high risk for exposure. There are an estimated 2.3 million workers who are exposed to silica in their workplace.
Until recently, rules on silica limits had not changed since 1971, when OSHA was first created. Since then, new information on silica-related diseases has emerged, and the new regulations were created to better represent current knowledge. The new regulations include:
- A reduction in the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of silica particles small enough for you to breathe from 100 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an 8-hour shift.
- Workplace controls requirements that include proper ventilation, respirators, training for workers, and a written exposure control plan.
- Medical exams for highly exposed workers, for monitoring and educational purposes.
- Flexibility to help employers protect workers from exposure.
These rules can be seen on OSHA’s website here.
These new rules are expected to save, each year, over 600 lives and prevent about 900 new cases of silicosis. Industry must comply by the following deadlines:
Construction- June 23, 2017
General Industry and Maritime- June 23, 2018
Hydraulic Fracturing- June 23, 2018
The Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health are widely recognized as leaders in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of workplace injuries and illnesses. We are dedicated to providing cutting-edge clinical services with a focus on prevention to keep workers healthy and their workplaces safe. If you have any questions about silica and the new OSHA regulations or if you would like to discuss your own exposure to silica, you can speak with an expert at the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health by calling 888-702-0630.