OSHA Release Instruction for Inspection Procedures for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards

In late June OSHA releases the documents as a follow up to their National Emphasis Program for Respirable Crystalline Silica.

This new Instruction establishes OSHA’s field inspection and enforcement procedures designed to ensure uniformity when addressing respirable crystalline silica exposures in the workplace. These two expanded health standards, one for construction (29 CFR § 1926.1153) and the other for general industry/maritime (29 CFR § 1910.1053), were published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2016, and became effective June 23, 2016.

The two new standards adopted a new permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (μg/m³) as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

Construction industry employers were scheduled to be in compliance with all the standard’s provisions, except for methods of sample analysis, by June 23, 2017. However, on April 6, 2017, OSHA extended the initial compliance date to September 23, 2017. The compliance date for the methods of sample analysis requirements remained unchanged at June 23, 2018.

The Instruction provides further clarification of terms and further guidance for CSHO (Compliance Safety and Health Officer) when auditing an employer including checklists and a questionnaire for workers. Additional illustrative examples are also provided.

The full 124-page document is available here.