Employer Compliance

Anytime OSHA publishes a final rule, it is important for companies to be informed. Employers are expected to comply with all applicable OSHA regulations even if they weren’t aware of their existence. So far in 2016, OSHA has released two new final rules which are as follows:

Silica

Purpose

On March 24, 2016, OSHA released a long-awaited final ruling on Silica dust in order to protect and prevent workers from obtaining severe illnesses such as silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease. The main concept of the ruling is to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica, require employers to provide engineering controls such as ventilation or water, and provide medical exams to monitor highly exposed workers. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime.

Summary of Key Provisions According to OSHA:

  • Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift.
  • Requires employers to:
    • use engineering controls (such as water or ventilation) to limit worker exposure to the PEL;
    • provide respirators when engineering controls cannot adequately limit exposure;
    • limit worker access to high exposure areas; develop a written exposure control plan;
    • offer medical exams to highly exposed workers;
    • and train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposures. ·
  • Provides medical exams to monitor highly exposed workers and gives them information about their lung health.
  • Provides flexibility to help employers, especially small businesses, protect workers from silica exposure.

Implementation Schedule & Deadlines

Effective date: June 23, 2016 for both standards

Compliance Deadlines by Industry:

  • Construction- June 23, 2017, one year after the effective date.
  • General Industry and Maritime- June 23, 2018, two years after the effective date.
  • Hydraulic Fracturing- June 23, 2018, two years after the effective date for all provisions except Engineering Controls, which have a compliance date of June 23, 2021.

Source: OSHA

Eye and Face Protection

Purpose

On March 25, 2016, just one day after publishing the Silica rule, OSHA published an Eye and Face Protection rule in the Federal Register.

The purpose is to update the references in the existing rule to the most recent national consensus standards (ANSI/ISEA). The new rule protects workers by requiring that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for eye and face protection complies with the most up-to-date ANSI/ISEA standards. This change applies to general industry, construction, shipyards, longshoring and marine terminals.

Summary of Key Provisions According to OSHA:

  • Recognizes the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices, while deleting the outdated 1986 edition of that same national consensus standard.
  • The 2003 and 1989 (R-1998) versions of the ANSI standard already referenced in the standard will be retained.
  • Updates the construction standard by deleting the 1968 version of the ANSI standard that was referenced and now includes the same three ANSI standards referenced above to ensure consistency among the agency’s standards.

Effective date: April 25, 2016.

Source: OSHA 

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education and assistance. For assistance with complying to OSHA’s rules and regulations, please contact us today at (724) 776-1003.