On March 25, 2016, OSHA published a final rule regulating occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica for general industry, and the standard became enforceable on June 23, 2018. The standard requires employers to protect employees from exposure above the permissible exposure limit of 50 μg/m3 averaged over an eight hour day.
OSHA has recently published 64 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the final rule. The FAQs were developed with consultation from industry and union stakeholders.
The FAQs provide guidance for the Scope and Application (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(a)), Definitions (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(b)), Exposure Assessments (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(d)), Regulated Areas (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(e)), Methods of Compliance (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(f)), Written Exposure Control Plan (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(f)(2)), Housekeeping (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(h)), Medical Surveillance (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(j)), Communication of respirable crystalline silica hazards to employees (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(j)), Recordkeeping (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(k)), and Temporary Employees.
Employers covered by the standard should review the entire list of FAQs.