The Mine Safety and Health Administration wants public input as it studies a potential rule to protect miners from silica in the workplace, a move that comes after mine safety advocates have repeatedly called for regulatory action.
The agency seeks “information and data on feasible, best practices to protect miners’ health from exposure to quartz in respirable dust, including an examination of an appropriately reduced permissible exposure limit,” according to a proposal that will be published in the Aug. 29 Federal Register (RIN 1219–AB36). A 60-day public comment period will begin on that date.
“The Department of Labor is committed ...