OSHA SILICA AWARENESS - METABO

AS OF JUNE 23, 2018
OSHA BEGAN SILICA ENFORCEMENT FOR
GENERAL INDUSTRY AND MARITIME

OSHA Silica Dust Exposure Update

The OSHA Dust silica exposure limits are now the law for Construction sites in the USA and as of June 23rd, General Industry and Maritime (Standard 29 CFR 1910, section 1910.1053) will become effective. This includes Industrial Plant & Maintenance facilities as well. Hydraulic Fracturing enforcement will start in June 2021.

Many sites have been cited but were given windows of compliance before actual fines were issued because of the newness of these new standards. Nevertheless, some high-profile and high dollar fines have been issued since the new ruling has taken effect. These are shown below.

Because of the differences between Federal, State and Local OSHA divisions, we are receiving feedback that the relative emphasis on silica enforcement may vary from region to region. The local OSHA branch in Philadelphia, PA for example has been enforcing these new standards since the middle of 2017.

In general, we have not seen a concerted effort by OSHA specifically targeting silica compliance. OSHA rather seems to be taking a more ‘holistic’ approach to safety & compliance, meaning that silica is being addressed along with other important safety considerations like Fall Protection, Trenching Safety, Lead and Asbestos exposure. This means that as of June, 2018, not only Construction sites but Industrial Plant & Maintenance operations MUST be compliant with OSHA silica exposure limits. Those contractors or companies who willingly violate the new OSHA silica regulations can be issued Punitive Fines in addition to standard violations, so there is still a strong need for dust compliance systems. 
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As experts in Industrial Power Tool applications, including surface preparation, concrete cutting and scoring, your Metabo sales technician has been trained in recommending cost-effective solutions to keep end users safe and their employers compliant with all current OSHA regulations.

​April 27, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Buffalo U-Haul Facility for Exposing
Employees to Asbestos and Silica During Building Renovation

BUFFALO, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited U-Haul Company of New York & Vermont, doing business as U-Haul Moving & Storage at Larkin District, for exposing its employees to asbestos and silica hazards while performing renovation work at its 665 Perry St. storage facility in Buffalo. The company faces $108,095 in proposed fines.

Jan 3, 2018

​OSHA, Miron Construction, and 23 Contractors Partner for Safety
on University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Dorm Renovation Project

EAU CLAIRE, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Miron Construction Company Inc. have signed a strategic partnership to promote worker safety and health on the dormitory renovation project at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
The partnership will develop effective safety and health training programs and procedures; identify common construction hazards such as falls, electrical, struck-by, caught-in, silica, asbestos, lead, heat stress, crane collapse, noise, and carbon monoxide; and encourage worker participation in employer safety and health programs.

June 28, 2017

OSHA finds machine safety hazards, silica overexposure at Ohio steel plant

GROVEPORT, Ohio – Amsted Rail Company Inc., a manufacturer of cast steel freight components, faces $610,034 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after agency investigators found workers at its Groveport plant exposed to machine hazards and silica.

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