The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is considering revisions to its silica standard for the construction industry. Currently, OSHA provides methods to prevent silica exposure in what is called Table 1. Those who follow Table 1 methods are not required to measure workers' exposure and are not subject to the permissible exposure limits. OSHA is planning to look into available information to determine the effectiveness of control measures not included in Table 1.
“The agency is also interested in tasks and tools involving exposure to respirable crystalline silica that are not currently listed in Table 1, along with information on the effectiveness of dust control methods in limiting worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica when performing those operations,” the agency said in the agenda. “OSHA intends to evaluate the available information to determine if revisions to Table 1 may be appropriate.”
OSHA is also working on its proposal to amend the 2017 electronic record-keeping regulation to rescind the requirement to submit OSHA forms 300 and 301 for companies with 250 or more employees.
(more on OSHA's considerations for these two standards...)
