Silica Dust Emphasis Program to be Revived by Safety Agency

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration likely will issue a new national emphasis program for breathable silica dust exposure in 2020, an agency official said. The program’s details are still under review by OSHA and the Department of Labor.

OSHA had a silica emphasis program for several years, but let the program expire after the agency enacted silica rules for construction and general industry in 2016. The first guidance on enforcement of the silica rule came out the following year.

In addition, the agency intends to renew emphasis programs for amputations and combustible dust that can explode or catch fire, ...