new OSHA Silica in Construction Standard is effective September 23, 2017

• Exposures to crystalline silica dust occur when cutting, sawing, drilling, and crushing concrete, brick, block, rock, and stone products and operations using sand products (such as in glass manufacturing, foundries, sand blasting, and hydraulic fracturing).
• 2.3 million workers are exposed to silica annually. 2 million in construction and 300,000 in general industry.
• For the most common construction tasks, OSHA has spelled out exactly how to best protect workers.
• The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) has been drastically lowered to 50 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average and the OSHA Action Limit to 25 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
• Other new elements are now required, such as a written Silica Exposure Control Plan and medical examinations required for highly exposed workers.

More information is available at www.osha.gov/silica.
Source: GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

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