Description

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime. OSHA estimates the regulation will save over 600 lives and prevent more than 900 new cases of silicosis each year, once its effects are fully realized.

About 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and 300,000 workers in general industry operations such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.

Key provisions of the regulations include reducing the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica, requiring employers to use engineering controls to limit worker exposure to the PEL, and providing medical exams to monitor highly exposed workers and give them information about their lungs health.

This training program will take approximately 30 minutes to finish and will address general OSHA guidelines for respirable crystalline silica safety training. It will cover the following topics:

• What is Crystalline Silica
• Exposure control plan
• Exposure assessment
• Methods of compliance
• Regulated areas
• Respiratory protection
• Housekeeping
• Medical surveillance
• Training