OSHA hears from NSSGA rep on silica rule

By |  March 28, 2014

NSSGA‘s Pam Whitted, senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs, testified before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the potential impacts of its crystalline silica proposed rule. Whitted joined other stakeholders in expressing concern over the cost to businesses.

“OSHA’s proposal is estimated by independent analysts to cost large and small employers alike billions of dollars every year,” she says.

Whitted says a better approach would be for OSHA to enforce the current permissible exposure limits (PELs). A balanced view of the silica research indicates that the current is adequate to prevent silica-related disease, she says.

Whitted also expressed the industry’s concern regarding enforcement with OSHA’s proposal to reduce the PEL.

“Many commercial laboratories may not be able to measure silica exposures at or below the current PEL on a reliable and consistent basis,” she says.

Kevin Yanik

About the Author:

Kevin Yanik is editor-in-chief of Pit & Quarry. He can be reached at 216-706-3724 or kyanik@northcoastmedia.net.

Comments are closed