US regulators to focus on silica work exposure

01 February 2008 20:21  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--US regulators are to begin closer inspection of workplace exposure to silica under a new mandate announced on Friday, according to government officials.

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it is instituting a national emphasis programme (NEP) on silica exposure in the workplace and has directed its inspectors to conduct more rigorous examinations at production and use sites.

 

Crystalline silica is used by a broad range of industries, the administration noted, including mining, manufacturing, construction, maritime and agriculture.

 

Among other uses, silica is used as a filler in the manufacture of paints, plastics and other materials.

 

“Under this programme, OSHA will work diligently to maximize the protection of employees and eliminate workplace exposures to silica-related hazards,” said Edwin Foulke, assistant secretary at the Department of Labor.  OSHA is a unit of the department.

 

The national emphasis programme for silica does not directly require additional reporting or operational changes on the part of companies that produce or use silica, but it will result in greater regulatory attention to workplace exposures of silica, the administration said.

 

The programme “includes an update list of industries commonly known to have overexposures to silica, detailed information on potential hazards linked to silica and about current research regarding silica exposure hazards”, OSHA said.

 

In addition, the new mandate provides OSHA inspectors with new “guidance on calculating the permissible exposure limits (PELs) for dust containing respirable crystalline silica … and guidance on conducting silica-related inspections”.

 

The complete OSHA instruction to it inspector force can be found on the administration’s Web site.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

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