Don’t think that this changes much! Compliance with the Silica Standard is not expected to change.
From what we understand all of the current legal cases have been consolidated and are being heard in the Washington D.C. Circuit Court. Delays have been requested and denied, until now. We do not expect the court to completely revoke the standard but we do hope for some changes.
We need a Secretary of Labor and the new OSHA Administration to be put in place before much of anything will happen. The current nominee for Secretary of Labor is Alexander Acosta.
During his interviews with Senator Warren, he was asked about the current standards and the reply was that he believes –everything is on the table-.
We at MSC Safety Solutions recommend that all companies should continue moving forward to ensure compliance.
Contact us for more information on safety training.
U.S. Department of Labor | April 6, 2017
OSHA to delay enforcing crystalline silica standard in the construction industryWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a delay in enforcement of the crystalline silica standard that applies to the construction industry to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. The agency has determined that additional guidance is necessary due to the unique nature of the requirements in the construction standard. Originally scheduled to begin June 23, 2017, enforcement will now begin Sept. 23, 2017. OSHA expects employers in the construction industry to continue to take steps either to come into compliance with the new permissible exposure limit, or to implement specific dust controls for certain operations as provided in Table 1 of the standard. Construction employers should also continue to prepare to implement the standard’s other requirements, including exposure assessment, medical surveillance and employee training. 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 more information, visit www.osha.gov. # # # Media Contacts: Amy Louviere, 202-693-9423, [email protected] Release Number: 17-415-NAT
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