OSHA proposed silica ruling could cost industry $5.45bn/year

• Autores: Emma Hughes
• Localización: Industrial Minerals, ISSN 0019-8544, Nº. 553, 2013
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • "NISA companies have demonstrated that silicosis can be prevented when exposures are maintained consistently below the 0.1mg/m 3 PEL. Lowering the PEL is not justified," the association said.

    "IMA-NA believes that the OSHA comprehensive silica standard should mandate that general industry employers, whose workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the AL, must conduct dust monitoring of the air their workers breathe, and must retain records of that monitoring," IMA-NA suggests.

    We do not believe that halving the [PELs] is needed. Silicosis could be prevented as long as employers are complying with the current 100mug/m 3 PEL. OSHA should focus on ancillary measures when exposures exceed 50mug/m 3 (the lowest feasible PEL). Such measures could include establishing exposure assessment, respiratory protection, hazard communication medical surveillance, and record keeping for workplaces where crystalline silica exposures exceed. Remember that 100mug/m 3 is the current limit in the UK.