![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](https://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
OSHA SEEKS TOUGHER STANDARD ON RCS RISK
US regulator new respirable crystalline silica standard for construction
The federal regulator for health and safety in the USA (OSHA) has released a ‘proposed rule’ to protect workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica. Inhalation of very small (respirable) crystalline silica particles poses risk of silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.
Dr. David Michaels Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health OSHA estimates that the proposed rule will save nearly 700 lives and prevent 1,600 new cases of silicosis per year, once the full effects of the rule are realized.
Lower exposure limits and greater preventive actions proposed
OSHA currently enforces 40-year-old permissible exposure limits (PELs) for crystalline silica in general industry, construction and shipyards and is now proposing a standard for construction including provisions for employers to:
Measure the amount of silica that workers are exposed to if it may be at or above an action level of 25 μg/m (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air), averaged over an 8-hour day;- Protect workers from respirable crystalline silica exposures above the PEL of 50 μg/m, averaged over an 8-hour day;
- Limit workers’ access to areas where they could be exposed above the PEL;
- Use dust controls to protect workers from silica exposures above the PEL;
- Provide respirators to workers when dust controls cannot limit exposures to the PEL;
- Offer medical exams —including chest X-rays and lung function tests—every three years for workers exposed above the PEL for 30 or more days per year;
- Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure; and
- Keep records of workers’ silica exposure and medical exams
The proposed OSHA standard matches the increasing focus by HSE’s construction division on RCS assessment and control in the UK construction industry.
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
HSE ENFORCEMENT DATABASE LATEST UPDATE
View current online register of HSE prosecutions and enforcement notices
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th August 2019FALL PRECAUTIONS FELL BETWEEN TWO FIRMS
Contractors fined after workers at risk of falling from roof
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th August 2019SOLAR PANEL FIRM AWARE OF FRAGILE ROOF RISK
Workman suffered long-term injuries in 4m fall through rooflight
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th August 2019HSE PROSECUTE FIRM OVER RISK NOT HARM
Multiple safety failings land construction company in court
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th August 2019CLIENT AND CONTRACTOR FACED COURT TOGETHER
Firms breached joint duty to plan and carry our work at height safely
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019£1M FINE OVER DEATH CAUSED BY EXCAVATOR
Vehicle driver found guilty at trial alongside CDM Principal Contractor
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019CHILD DIED WHILST PLAYING ON POWERED GATE
Lack of end stop caused gate to fall on 6 year old boy
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019HSE SPEAK AT ACCESS INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2019
AIF National Working at Height Conference November 2019
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019UK CLIENT FINED OVER UNSAFE OVERSEAS FIRM
Italian contractor found guilty despite failure to attend court
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019COMPLETE FAILURE TO RECOGNISE HAVS RISK
Specialist drilling company and director sentenced over HAVS danger
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019PC AND TWO OTHERS FAILED TO ASSESS WIND EFFECT
Fall of director from roof caused by ‘Storm Doris’ gust
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th July 2019MAJOR FIRM FINED £400k OVER LIFTING OPERATION
Fitter loses four fingers as load slides and falls to the ground
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th July 2019NEW HOMES LEFT IN DANGEROUS CONDITION
Fined for unsafe gas work causing fires at housing development
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th July 2019FIRM FINED £1M OVER EXPLOSION DURING CLEANING
Tank cleaning operation caused burns as flammable vapours ignited
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th July 2019YOUNG BRICKLAYER FELL THROUGH OPEN STAIRWAY
Firm fined over failure to install fall protection around opening
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th July 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019FLAT ROOF FAILED UNDER WEIGHT OF WORKMAN
Confusion over fragility proves costly for worker and business
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019PROPERTY FIRM FINED OVER FATAL FALL FROM TREE
Untrained workers using chain saw engaged to fell large sycamore
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019LANDLORD PUT PUBLIC AT RISK FROM ASBESTOS
Powered jet washing of asbestos cement sheets caused spread
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019WORKMAN FELL FROM SUSPENDED ACCESS EQUIPMENT
Health Board and maintenance firm director prosecuted
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019CONSIDERING TEMP WORKS IN PERMANENT DESIGN
Useful overview for civil and structural engineers on contemporary practice
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019FIRM FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SITE WELFARE NOTICE
Basic welfare requirements found wanting for second time
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019PRISON TERM OVER POORLY GUARDED CIRCULAR SAW
Workman lost three fingers using machine without guard and riving knife
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019COMPANY IGNORED HSE ON SILICA DUST ACTION
Worktop manufacturer failed to control dust and manage ventilation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019ASBESTOS REMOVED WITHOUT SURVEY OR CONTROLS
Client fined over failure to commission refurb and demo survey
Posted on 15th July 2019
