Cutting Miners’ Exposure to Toxic Dust Focus of Proposed Rule

Protecting mine workers from toxic airborne silica dust is at the center of a proposed rule released Thursday by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration.

MSHA is accepting comments through Aug. 28 on what requirements should be in the final rule, according to the Federal Register notice. The agency will hold public hearings at MSHA’s headquarters in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 3 and in Denver on Aug. 19.

MSHA hasn’t said when a final rule could be issued. The rule would cover roughly 289,000 employees at about 12,600 mines.

Development of the silica rule (RIN:1219-AB36) began in ...