Question

Describe the differences between the OSHA general industry and construction silica standards

Answer 1

In addition to the general sorts of requirements that are found in most substance-specific rules, the two silica rules include these specific coverage requirements, exemptions, and compliance options:

• Both rules set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift.
• Both rules exclude tasks where worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica will not reach the action level of 25 μg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average under any foreseeable conditions. Employers in maritime and general industry must have evidence to support this exception.
• The maritime/general industry standard exempts exposures that result from the processing of sorptive clays (i.e., specific types of clay found in a few geologic deposits in the country that are used in a range of consumer products and industrial applications, such as pet litter and sealants for landfills).

• Paragraph (c) of the construction standard includes a table with specific exposure control methods listed for specific tasks and types of equipment. This differs substantially from other OSHA substance-specific standards. Employers that comply with these alternative exposure control methods are exempted from the standard’s other exposure monitoring, engineering, and work practice control requirements. Employers in maritime/general industry whose employees are using these same types of equipment and performing these same types of tasks may also use the exposure control methods found in the construction standard as an alternative to exposure monitoring.