The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized its workplace exposures standard for crystalline silica for general industry that would sharply reduce the existing permissible exposure limit (PEL). The rule lowers the PEL from the current standard of 100 micrograms per cubic meter to 50 micrograms of silica per cubic meter. It gives industries two years to come into compliance. The rule also requires covered facilities to implement a wide variety of administration and engineering controls, including requirements for initial and periodic exposure assessments, regulated and restricted work areas, engineering and work practice exposure controls, respiratory protection, employee medical surveillance, employee training and recordkeeping.

To get more information or read the rule in its entirety, follow this link: https://www.osha.gov/silica/.