Washington — OSHA has released initial enforcement guidelines for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for general industry and maritime, a couple of weeks before many of the rule’s provisions are scheduled to go into effect.

Washington — OSHA has released new compliance assistance resources for limiting worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Washington — Workers who frequently drill concrete can experience reduced exposure to noise, silica dust and vibration if pneumatic rock drills are replaced with electric rotary hammer drills, according to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Washington — OSHA has published answers to a list of frequently asked questions regarding the agency’s respirable crystalline silica standard for general industry.

Lowell, MA — Certain job tasks may expose construction workers to silica dust at levels more than 10 times the permissible exposure limit set by OSHA, according to the results of a recent study.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has published a hazard alert on the risks of worker exposure to silica dust.

Washington — Alarmed by a recent spike in cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, a deadly but preventable condition commonly known as black lung, union presidents Cecil Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America and Leo Gerard of United Steelworkers have sent a letter to Mine Safety and Health Administration leader David Zatezalo requesting stricter regulation of respirable silica dust.

Washington — OSHA is requesting input on potential revisions to Table 1 of its respirable crystalline silica standard for construction, according to a Request for Information slated for publication in the Aug. 15 Federal Register.

Washington — Effective Feb. 4, OSHA has revived its National Emphasis Program on respirable crystalline silica for general industry, maritime and construction to “identify and reduce or eliminate” silica-related hazards.

Washington — Seeking “uniformity” in the enforcement of its silica standards, OSHA has published an instructional directive for its compliance safety and health officers.

Silver Spring, MD — Three new resources from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training are intended to help prevent silica exposure among construction and surface mining workers who operate mobile equipment in enclosed cabs.

Washington — NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration are looking for presenters for a virtual workshop on silica exposure and lung disease in the mining industry, scheduled for Oct. 22-23.

Washington — The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is advising the Mine Safety and Health Administration to lower its legal exposure limit for silica released Nov. 16.

Washington — The COVID-19 pandemic has “exacerbated” the challenges for OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration to use their resources to protect the safety and health of workers, according to the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Washington — Five Senate Democrats are imploring the Mine Safety and Health Administration to lower its exposure limit for crystalline silica – a carcinogen found in sand, stone and artificial stone.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA intends to conduct inspections at jobsites where workers are most likely to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica, as part of the agency’s recently launched state emphasis program aimed at reducing exposure to silica and preventing silicosis.

Washington – OSHA’s scaled-back enforcement efforts on silica exposure during a recent two-year period left more workers at risk, according to a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit report released Sept. 29.

Toronto — A recent decision by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to formally recognize Parkinson’s disease as an occupational disorder linked to McIntyre Powder exposure guarantees provincial compensation benefits to affected workers and their families, Minister of Labor Monte McNaughton has announced.

Arlington, VA — As the Mine Safety and Health Administration works toward publishing a proposed rule on respirable crystalline silica, agency administrator Chris Williamson is encouraging mine workers and operators to “take proactive measures” to assess silica-related health hazards.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is “actively working” toward publishing a proposed rule on respirable crystalline silica, agency administrator Chris Williamson said Oct. 20.

Washington — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has scheduled public meetings on its recently published proposed rule on worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Washington — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has extended until Sept. 11 the comment period for a proposed rule on worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

The health hazards of respirable crystalline silica have been in the spotlight in mining, manufacturing and other industries. So, what is it – and what can be done to reduce worker exposure?

Washington — A new OSHA initiative is aimed at protecting workers in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries from silica exposure.

Washington — OSHA’s Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health is set to meet via teleconference at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 14.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently renewed the two-year charter for the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations until Nov. 22 for membership on the reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Nov. 16.

Itasca, IL — John Dony, senior director of thought leadership at the National Safety Council, has been appointed to serve on OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA has pushed to Jan. 31 the deadline to submit nominations to serve on the reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations until Feb. 22 for an employee representative on its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA has extended, for a second time, the deadline to submit nominations to serve on the reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a public meeting for Feb. 22, followed by the initial meeting of the committee’s work group on heat injury and illness prevention on Feb. 25.

Washington — OSHA is reviewing comments on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at protecting workers from extreme heat exposure, administrator Doug Parker said during a Feb. 25 meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health’s work group on heat injury and illness prevention.

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health is set to meet June 15.

Washington — The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a virtual public meeting for June 30.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations for its National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Sept. 13, a day after its work group on heat injury and illness prevention is slated to convene.

Lincoln, AL — Assisting in the creation of a national pilot car training curriculum, along with certification for pilot and escort vehicles, is the aim of the National Pilot Car Stakeholder Advisory Group.

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health is set to meet Sept. 14.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations for membership on its Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — Labor Secretary Marty Walsh has renewed the two-year charter for the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, OSHA announced in a notice published in the Sept. 30 Federal Register.

Washington — OSHA’s Federal Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health is set to meet Nov. 17. Its Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health also will meet Nov. 17.

Washington — The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Jan. 10, a month after its work group on heat injury and illness prevention is slated to convene.

Washington — Labor Secretary Marty Walsh has renewed the two-year charter for the OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations for its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations for its National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health is scheduled to meet March 1.

Washington — The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health’s work group on heat injury and illness prevention is set to meet virtually in April.

Washington — OSHA has announced the appointment of 15 members to its Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.