OSHA's long-awaited crystalline silica rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently sought comment on proposed standards to reduce occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The agency faces multiple challenges in devising a regulatory approach that will meet its statutory goal of reducing significant ri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Regulation (Washington. 1977) 2014-03, Vol.37 (1), p.7
Main Author: Dudley, Susan E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Control
Laws, regulations and rules
Occupational health and safety
Occupational safety
Proposals
Regulatory agencies
Risk exposure
Safety and security measures
Safety regulations
Silica
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently sought comment on proposed standards to reduce occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The agency faces multiple challenges in devising a regulatory approach that will meet its statutory goal of reducing significant risk. In a comment filed on the public record, University of Alabama law professor Andrew Morriss and the author recognize OSHA's challenges; however, they find that the greatest obstacle to reducing risks associated with silica exposure is not lack of will (on the part of employers or employees), but rather lack of information. Their analysis concludes that the proposed rule will contribute little in the way of new information and, indeed, may stifle the necessary generation of knowledge by precluding flexibility for experimentation and learning. OSHA first established a maximum permissible exposure level for crystalline silica in 1970 by adopting a consensus industry standard. In 2002, OSHA set a new deadline of November 2003 and listed the proposed rule as one of its top priorities.
ISSN:0147-0590
1931-0668