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News Feb. 10, 2020

OSHA revises National Emphasis Program regarding silica

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established a revised National Emphasis Program to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica in general industry, maritime and construction, according to www.osha.gov.

The NEP targets specific industries expected to have the highest numbers of workers exposed to silica and focuses on enforcement of the new silica standards—one for general industry and maritime (29 CFR § 1910.1053) and one for construction (29 CFR § 1926.1153). These standards took effect June 2016, and construction employers were required to begin complying with their standard as of Sept. 23, 2017.

Changes made to the NEP included:

  • Revised application to the lower permissible exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter as an eight-hour time-weighted average in general industry, maritime, and construction
  • An updated list of target industries as listed in the appendix of the NEP; from this list, area offices will develop randomized establishment lists of employers in their local jurisdictions for targeted inspections
  • Compliance safety and health officers will refer to current enforcement guidance for respirable crystalline silica inspection procedures.
  • All OSHA regional and area offices must comply with this NEP but are not required to develop and implement corresponding regional or local emphasis programs.
  • State plans must participate because of the nationwide exposures to silica.

OSHA will conduct 90 days of compliance assistance for stakeholders before starting programmed inspections for the NEP.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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