OSHA plans to put out a request for information about its silica standard for the construction industry in 2019, Safety.BLR reports. The agency revised the silica standard in 2016 and launched an industry compliance assistance effort the following year. OSHA began full enforcement of the silica standard in October 2017.
The construction industry standard includes a table of prescribed control methods for specific tasks and tools that can release respirable silica dust. The agency plans to seek feedback on the control methods table. In its most recent agenda, the agency said it was interested in learning about:
- The effectiveness of control measures not included for tasks and tools listed in the agency's table;
- Tasks and tools involving exposure to respirable silica that are not listed in the table; and
- The effectiveness of dust control methods in limiting worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica when performing those operations.
OSHA said it would issue a pre-rule request for information in December 2018, Safety.BLR reports, but the agency has not yet issued such a notice.
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