April 21, 2016
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its final rule on respirable crystalline silica. The rule, which is titled Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica, establishes a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica of 50 micrograms per cubic meter as an eight-hour time-weighted average. It also includes provisions regarding exposure assessments, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, hazard communication, and recordkeeping. The rule takes effect on June 23, 2016.