Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is reminding mine operators to safeguard in opposition to employee publicity to hazardous silica dust the place mobile equipment is used.
Respirable crystalline silica can injury lung tissue and result in black lung illness, persistent obstructive pulmonary illness or incurable silicosis. OSHA estimates that 2.3 million employees are uncovered to silica dust yearly.
In a just lately revealed security alert, MSHA calls on mine operators to manage office environments to make sure compliance with permissible publicity limits for dust. Additionally, operators ought to implement engineering controls to cut back dust at its supply. Examples embrace utilizing dust collector methods, enclosures and cubicles, sprays and water vehicles, and environmental cabs. They additionally should preserve equipment in accordance with the producer’s suggestions, present respiratory safety and guarantee its use, and have a compliant respiratory safety program.
MSHA on July 13 revealed a proposed rule that may decrease the PEL for silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air over an 8-hour time-weighted common. The proposed restrict is half the present restrict and matches the PEL OSHA established in 2016.
