Two major Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revisions are taking affect in the next five months that can affect the way you run your company.
The rule sets new exposure limits on crystalline silica, a dust found in many materials used in industries such as construction, hydraulic fracking of oil and gas wells, glassmaking, and foundry work.
Here are the basics of the new regulation:
- The new limit for all industries affected by the rule will be 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift.
- That is half the current exposure limit for general industry and maritime
- Five times more stringent than the current level for the construction industry.
- The Labor Department estimates the rule will result in an annualized costs of $1,500 for the average workplace or less for smaller employers.
- Employers covered by the construction standard will have until late June of 2017 to meet most of the requirements, while those in the general industry will have until late June of 2018.
According to the U.S. Labor Department, the rule will improve workers' lives by cutting in half the existing ineffective exposure limits many workers are allowed to have to silica.
Through a partnership with Safety Plus, Inc., valuable tools to protect member companies from OSHA penalties are immediately available. In addition, staff are available to guide members through the maze pf compliance in an easy and understandable format. These services are provided at no cost.
Don Druse, Construction Compliance Specialist at Safety Plus, Inc., is eager to meet with local associations and provide the benefit of instruction and training.
"My goal is to help you be prepared should OSHA shows-up at your residential construction site, warehouse or manufacturing facility," said Druse.
Stay tuned for more information about Safety Plus, Inc. and the services provided to members .
