After years of delay in the White House's Office of Management and Budget, the construction industry will likely see OSHA's plans for silica dust exposure very soon. NIOSH reports 1.7 million US workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica each year, through activities like sawing, drilling, cutting and grinding concrete, brick and stone. Prolonged exposure to this dust can lead to an incurable lung disease call silicosis.
The July 11 issue of the American Subcontractors Association's "ASA Today" included a news piece stating that OSHA is expected to take action by the end of this year on at least 10 rules that will affect construction subcontractors. One of these issues is a proposed rule on crystalline silica, which ASA expects OSHA will publish by the end of this month.
Please read on at: http://www.forconstructionpros.com/blog/10986314/release-of-oshas-proposed-rule-on-crystalline-silica-is-nearing