silica

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By Adam R. Young

Seyfarth Synopsis: Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board approved the Division’s revisions to the silica standard on an emergency basis, requiring a regulated area, PPE, and air monitoring for any workplace with a stone or tile cutting task. The regulations go into effect on December 29, 2023.

Recent stories from the LA Times have noted California occupational silicosis cases…

Continue Reading Cal/OSHA Approves Emergency Changes to the Silica Standard With Onerous New Requirements For Cutting Stone and Tile Products

By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that OSHA has launched a new initiative focused on enhancing enforcement and providing compliance assistance to protect workers from the hazards of silica.

Exposure to crystalline silica dust above recognized permissible exposure limits can result in severe lung disease, including…

Continue Reading Federal OSHA Announces Inspection Initiative Focusing on Crystalline Silica in the Stone Fabrication Industry

By Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Ilana R. Morady, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: We recently blogged that Silica is the New Asbestos: New OSHA Regional Emphasis Program Will Target Respirable Silica Hazards in Six States. Now the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has launched an enforcement initiative …
Continue Reading MSHA Launches Enforcement Initiative To Protect Miners From Overexposure To Respirable Crystalline Silica

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce,  and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has developed a new Regional Emphasis Program (REP) to identify and reduce hazards in the cut stone and stone products industry, which OSHA alleges to have the highest documented overexposures to respirable crystalline silica in the …
Continue Reading Silica is the New Asbestos: New OSHA Regional Emphasis Program Will Target Respirable Silica Hazards in Six States

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Benjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has recently issued a Frequently Asked Questions for General Industry for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard. 

We had noted previously in the blog that most of the provisions of the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for General Industry and Maritime,…
Continue Reading OSHA Issues FAQs for General Industry for Crystalline Silica Standard

By James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has just released a Memorandum on the Enforcement Launch for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard in General Industry and Maritime rules.

In its June 7, 2018 Memorandum about the new Crystalline Silica Standard OSHA states that it will shortly issue interim enforcement guidance…
Continue Reading OSHA Enforcement Memo for Crystalline Silica Standard in General Industry and Maritime

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has just released several fact sheets applicable to industries regulated under the Crystalline Silica Standards in Construction Rule.

OSHA has recently released several silica dust fact sheets, including Controlling Silica Dust in Construction – Crushing Machines…
Continue Reading OSHA Publishes Crystalline Silica Standards Rule Fact Sheets for Construction

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a win for labor, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals orders the remand of the Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction and General Industry (Silica Rule) for OSHA to explain its decision to omit medical removal protections.

In a decision this morning, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
Continue Reading Circuit Court Finds OSHA Failed to Adequately Explain the Crystalline Silica Standards Rule

By Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has recently published “Small Entity Compliance” Guides for the new Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction and General Industry.

OSHA recently released small entity compliance guides for both construction and general industry.  See Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard in Construction…
Continue Reading OSHA Publishes “Small Entity Compliance” Guides for the Crystalline Silica Standards

By Patrick D. Joyce and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA announced a thirty day phase-in for enforcement of the Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction under 29 CFR 1926.1153.  The new rule will be fully effective by Monday, October 23, 2017.

OSHA’s new crystalline silica rule is wide-reaching and, for that reason, the rulemaking has been contentious. We have…
Continue Reading OSHA Adopts 30-Day “Phase-In” of Enforcement of Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction