OSHA Concerned about Crystalline Silica

Many people know that workers’ compensation benefits cover injuries that occur in on-the-job accidents. But Kentucky workers who become ill as a result of their employment may also be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. A proposed federal safety rule is raising awareness of crystalline silica as a potential source of workplace illness.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced the proposed rule for exposure to the substance. OSHA is the federal agency under the U.S. Department of Labor that is responsible for rules and regulations aimed at keeping workplaces safe.

OSHA has decided to revisit the 40-year-old permissible exposure limits for crystalline silica, which is used in general industry, shipyards and construction. According to OSHA, the old standards are inconsistent among industries and fail to adequately protect workers who may come into contact with crystalline silica.

Millions of workers are exposed to the substance throughout the United States. Once referred to as “deadly dust,” crystalline silica is a fine dust that is frequently produced as workers saw, cut, drill or crush common building materials such as concrete and mortar. Workers in the oil and gas industry who are involved in hydraulic fracturing, as well as workers in foundries and sandblasting, are at a particularly high risk for inhaling crystalline silica dust.

Workers often find respirator masks to be cumbersome and annoying, but they may not know why these masks are required. Workers may be told that the masks keep them from breathing in the dust when they work with rocks, bricks or concrete. But they may not realize the dust contains crystalline silica.

Breathing in any kind of dust is potentially detrimental to your lungs and respiratory system. Inhaling high levels of crystalline silica, or inhaling it over a lengthy period of time, can cause silicosis, an irreversible disease that has no cure.

OSHA is in the public comment phase of enacting the new rule. OSHA aims to prevent 1,600 new cases of silicosis each year once a final rule is adopted. The deadline for submitting comments to OSHA regarding the proposed silica rule is December 11, 2013. Instructions on how to submit a comment can be found on OSHA’s website.

If you have suffered a workplace-related injury or illness, or have lost a loved one as the result of one, you may be entitled to Kentucky workers’ compensation benefits.