Safety Series: Complying with OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard

Description

Around 2.3 million workers are exposed to crystalline silica on the job. Simply being near sand or other silica-containing materials is not hazardous. The hazard exists when specific activities create respirable dust that is released into the air. Respirable crystalline silica – very small particles typically at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand found on beaches or playgrounds – is generated by high-energy operations like cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block and mortar; or when using industrial sand. Activities such as abrasive blasting with sand; sawing brick or concrete; sanding or drilling into concrete walls; grinding mortar; manufacturing brick, concrete blocks, or ceramic products; and cutting or crushing stone generates respirable dust.
OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for construction requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. This includes, but is not limited to employers using engineering controls − such as ventilation and wet methods for cutting and sawing crystalline silica-containing materials − to reduce workers' exposure to silica dust.
As part of this HBASE Safety Series class, participants will review and explore key provisions for complying with the Respirable Crystalline Silica standard, including the following topics:

• Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
• Specific Exposure Control Methods (Table 1)
• Alternative Exposure Control Methods
• Respiratory Protection
• Housekeeping
• Written Exposure Control Plan
• Work Area Access
• Competent Person
• Medical Surveillance
• Hazard Communication
• Training
• Recordkeeping