Silica Standards

The new silica standard went into effect on June 23, 2017, for most employers but were imposed on October 23, 2017, on the construction industry. However, there are several older OSHA standards that employers are currently required to comply with to help protect workers exposed to silica dust, as follows:

• Before employers implement any other standard, they are required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.55(b) to first implement administrative and engineering controls that are designed to achieve compliance with permissible exposure limits.
• The General Safety and Health Provisions standard (29 CFR 1926.20) addresses the employee's rights to have a safe workplace.
• The Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts and Mists standard (29 CFR 1926.55[a]) lists the airborne levels of substances that would be considered to be hazardous.
• The Ventilation standard (29 CFR 1926.57) lists specific requirements for removing silica dust from a worker's breathing zone.
• The Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1926.59) prescribes worker training requirements for silica protection.
• The Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1926.103) applies if respirators are required on the job.

If you are located in one of the states with an OSHA-approved state plan, be sure to check the standards and enforcement policies that have been established in your state.

To learn more about Construction Silica visit our Construction Silica Safety Online Training web page.