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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
will conduct a national special emphasis program on crystalline silica that
includes extensive outreach as well as inspections in order to reduce the
potential threat of silicosis, a disabling and sometimes fatal disease, to
workers.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Joseph A. Dear said, "The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) has estimated that two million workers in the U.S. are exposed
annually to crystalline silica. These workers are especially at risk while
doing sandblasting, drilling or tunneling. We want to protect them as much as
possible."
The special emphasis program will apply to all workplaces
under OSHA's jurisdiction in the general industry, construction and maritime
sectors. Details of the program are contained in a compliance memorandum Dear
issued to field offices on May 2. A silicosis coordinator has been designated
in each region to coordinate the special emphasis program activities.
To encourage voluntary protection measures by employers,
OSHA will conduct an outreach program for 60 days before proceeding with
enforcement under existing OSHA standards. The outreach and voluntary
protection program involves the efforts of three governmental agencies.
Outreach materials are being developed by OSHA's Office of Education and
Training, working with NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA).
Among the outreach materials being developed are slides
about hazard recognition and crystalline silica control technology, a video on
crystalline silica and silicosis, and informational cards for workers
explaining crystalline silica, health effects and methods of control.
OSHA has also designated crystalline silica as a priority
for a future comprehensive rulemaking. Last December OSHA issued its report
generated by the Priority Planning Process in which crystalline silica was
identified as a priority rulemaking action. Priorities selected for rulemaking
will be added to OSHA's regulatory calendar as other standards now on the
calendar are completed and resources become available.
Crystalline silica is the basic component of sand, quartz
and granite rock. Activities that can generate airborne crystalline silica dust
include: abrasive blasting, rock drilling, foundry work, grinding, stone
cutting, mining and concrete drilling or cutting. Inhalation of airborne
crystalline silica can lead to silicosis, a disabling, progressive and
sometimes fatal disease involving scarring of the lungs. About 300 deaths are
attributed to silicosis annually. Inhaling silica dust has also been associated
with other diseases such as tuberculosis and lung cancer.
The compliance memorandum lists sources of information for
targeting crystalline silica inspection sites. These sources include workers'
compensation data, SENSOR data from a NIOSH program of cooperative agreements
with state health departments, and injury and illness recordkeeping data
collected by OSHA.
The compliance memorandum also describes the steps that
compliance officers should take when inspecting sites for possible overexposure
to crystalline silica. The program contains an element allowing for focused
inspections on sites where silica is not controlled effectively. Compliance
officers will limit their inspections at sites that have implemented an
effective and ongoing silicosis prevention program. This proposal implements
the principles of "The New OSHA" announced in May, 1995, by President Clinton
and Vice President Gore.
Elements of an effective silicosis prevention program may
include ongoing personal air monitoring, ongoing medical surveillance, training
and information to workers on crystalline silica, availability of air and
medical surveillance data to workers, an effective respiratory protection
program, hygiene facilities, appropriate recordkeeping, personal exposures
below the PEL or an abatement program that provides interim worker protection,
a safety and health program addressing overexposure to crystalline silica, and
regulated areas.
OSHA standards that may be cited as part of crystalline
silica enforcement include those involving respiratory protection; permissible
exposure limits; accident prevention and warning signs; access to employee
exposure and medical records; recordkeeping; engineering and work practice
controls; hygiene; general personal protective equipment; hazard communication;
safety and health programs (in construction); and training requirements (in
construction).
The 25 states and territories with their own OSHA-approved
occupational safety and health programs are encouraged, but not required, to
adopt an identical or alternative policy.
For assistance in developing a silicosis prevention
program, employers can contact their local OSHA consultation service for free
guidance and assistance.
A single free copy of the compliance memorandum may be
obtained after May 28 by sending a self-addressed label to the U.S. Department
of Labor, OSHA/OSHA Publications, P.O. Box 37535 Washington, DC 20013-7535.
Telephone (202) 219-4667, fax (202) 219-9266.
The compliance memorandum is available on the Internet
World Wide Web OSHA home page at http://www.osha.gov/ in the "What's New"
section, "Other OSHA Documents" section and "Compliance Assistance" section.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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