Is Your Company Affected by the New Silica General Industry Standard?

OSHA’s silica general industry standard will be enforced starting June 23, 2018.  Is your company affected by this new standard?

Silica can be found in a number of materials.  Silica is a fine particle which is a respiratory hazard.  Which industries are affected by silica, what products contain silica and which tasks generate silica exposures?  See the list below:

• Use of Industrial Sand in Production
• Abrasive Sand Blasting
• Paint and Coating Production
• Chemical Production
• Metal Casting and Production
• Foundry Work
• Glass
• Pottery
• Ceramic
• Porcelain Products
• Dental Products
• Brick
• Artificial Stone
• Concrete
• Asphalt Roofing
• Jewelry
• Clay Products
• Ready-Mix Concrete
• Refractory Products
• Refractory Furnace Installation
• Railroad Transport
• Filtration and Water Production

(Source: OSHA’s silica guidance and the National Industrial Sand Association)

If your company produces any of these products, you need to determine your exposure levels and follow guidelines set forth by the new silica standard.  Learn more about what these guidelines are in our previous blog post “OSHA’s Silica Rule for General Industry.”