As you know, enforcement for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard 29 CFR § 1926.1153 went into effect on September 23. While the enforcement date is finally here, OSHA released an important announcement late last week.

According to the announcement, during the first 30 days of enforcement, OSHA will evaluate the good faith efforts taken by employers in their attempt to meet the new requirements of the standard.  Additionally, OSHA will provide compliance assistance and outreach to assure employers are in compliance.  An important note to consider is that this only applies to employers who are making good faith efforts to comply.

If the employer is not making any effort to comply with the standard then OSHA reserves the option to collect exposure air monitoring as well as considering citations.  Any proposed citations related to inspections during the first 30 days will require review at the federal level.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement you should contact your local OSHA office for further information. Read the entire memorandum here.

As always, Safety Foundry is here to help you comply with the training aspect of the standard. Get your general field workers trained on the requirements of the new standard and how they can protect themselves from silica exposure.  Find out more on our silica awareness course page.