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General Industry and Maritime Operations Look to CIHs as New Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard Enforcement Approaches

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene® (ABIH®) reminds workers and industry of the need to address occupational exposure risks to known hazards.


Lansing, MI – WEBWIRE

Working diligently to protect workers from respirable crystalline silica and other airborne exposure risks, while helping companies and institutions comply with these new standards, are Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs).

In several months, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is scheduled to begin enforcement of the new respirable crystalline silica standard for General Industry and Maritime. These actions are part of the agency’s final rule that has two standards, one for Construction, which went into effect last September, and the other for General Industry and Maritime.  
 
According to OSHA, approximately 295,000 workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in over 75,000 general industry and maritime workplaces. OSHA also reports that over 100,000 workers in these employment categories are likely exposed to silica levels that exceed the new permissible exposure limit (PEL). The new standard reduces the PEL for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift.
 
The new standard also requires employers to:

  • Measure the amount of silica that workers are exposed to if it may be at or above an action level of 25 μg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day;
  • Protect workers from respirable crystalline silica exposures above the new permissible exposure limit (50 μg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day);
  • Use dust controls to protect workers from silica exposures above the PEL;
  • Limit workers’ access to areas where they could be exposed above the PEL;
  • Provide respirators to workers when dust controls cannot limit exposures to the PEL;
  • Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers to silica where feasible alternatives are available;
  • Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers;
  • Offer medical exams — including chest X-rays and lung function tests — every three years for workers exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year;
  • Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure; and
  • Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams.


 
“Enforcement actions for the new standard in General Industry and Maritime is scheduled to commence on June 23rd of this year,” said Jeffrey Miller, CIH® and Chair of ABIH®. “OSHA’s intent is to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Working diligently to protect workers from respirable crystalline silica and other airborne exposure risks, while helping companies and institutions comply with these new standards, are Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs). CIHs are uniquely qualified to identify and address respirable hazards in the workplace through their training in risks assessments; air sampling and instrumentational analysis; engineering controls and ventilation; health risk analysis and hazard communication; and work environments and industrial processes. This knowledge, in addition to administrative controls and the proper use of personal protective equipment, can be instrumental in reducing exposure risks to crystalline silica and other respirable hazards.”
 
To learn more about the American Board of Industrial Hygiene®, Certified Industrial Hygienist® credential or to locate a CIH® to perform industrial hygiene services, please visit www.ABIH.org, email abih@ABIH.org or call (517) 321-2638.
 
About the American Board of Industrial Hygiene ®
Since 1960, ABIH®, a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world’s largest organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. ABIH® is the premier credentialing body responsible for ensuring high-quality certification including education, experience, examination, certification maintenance, and ethics enforcement.  Currently, more than 6900 people in 32 countries are certified to use the CIH® credential.


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 CIH
 Silica
 OSHA
 Occupational Health
 Industrial Hygiene


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