OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Final Rule

EWN strives to set the safety & compliance industry standard by understanding regulatory changes and updating existing courses as needed.

OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Final Rule takes effect on June 23rd, 2016. The Final Rule includes separate standards for Construction (29 CFR 1926.1153) and General Industry and Maritime (29 CFR 1910.1053).

Here are the changes:

• Respirable crystalline silica permissible exposure limit (PEL) reduced to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (8-hour average shift).
• Employers are required:
  • Use engineering controls to limit worker exposure to PEL
  • Provide respirators when engineering controls cannot limit exposure
  • Limit worker access to high exposure areas
  • Develop a written exposure control plan
  • Offer medical exams to highly exposed workers
  • Train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposure

EWN has you covered when it comes to training your workers on the hazards of silica exposure in the workplace. Our course 17335-EWN-CBT-Respirable Crystalline Silica (OSHA) has been updated to reflect the noted changes, and will be available on June 23, 2016, so that you can begin educating your employees.

Although employees will require training on the new safety and compliance measures, there are also company specific requirements you must understand and be prepared to implement. Please note that employers should train workers on the specific controls and policies your company has in place regarding respirable crystalline silica.

Here are the new course objectives:

• Identify health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica
• Identify specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica
• Identify engineering controls that can be implemented to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica
• Identify work practices that can be implemented to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica
• Identify respiratory protection that can be used to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica
• Identify the purpose of medical surveillance programs

EWN is the trusted leader in Compliance Management & Workforce Development, let us help you prepare for the changes in OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Final Rule. If you have any questions, concerns or need help to implement these changes, contact us today!.

Learn more about the OSHA standards referenced in this post: 29 CFR 1926.1153 – 29 CFR 1910.1053