BAC Members Testify at OSHA Hearings on Dangers of Silica Dust

JOURNAL: ISSUE 2 - 2014

At the U.S. Department of Labor on March 29th, following the testimony of BAC’s panel on the proposed OSHA silica standard: from left, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, Tom Ward of Local 2 MI, Dennis Cahill of Local 3 AZ/NM, Tommy Todd of Local 5 OK/AR/TX, Dale McNabb of Local 2 MI, Sean Barrett of Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI and BAC President James Boland.

On March 31st, six members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) testified at the public hearings held by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) in support of the adoption of OSHA’s proposed silica standard affecting more than 2.1 million workers. BAC has fought for more than four decades for a stronger, more comprehensive standard to reduce silica exposure and protect workers in the construction industry.

BAC President James Boland led the panel of BAC craftworkers, who conveyed their personal stories of silica exposure, a jobsite poison that has injured and killed thousands of workers. In their highly personal accounts, the BAC members, including Tom Ward and Dale McNabb, both of Local 2 Michigan, Tommy Todd of Local 5 Oklahoma/Arkansas/Texas, Sean Barrett of Local 3 Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island, and Dennis Cahill of Local 3 Arizona/New Mexico, offered compelling evidence that the provisions of OSHA’s proposed silica standard are reasonable, feasible and necessary to protect workers. Once implemented, the standard is expected to prevent more than 1600 illnesses and nearly 700 deaths annually. BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, Chair of the Building and Construction Trades Department’s Silica Subcommittee, spoke at the OSHA hearings on March 25th as part of the Building Trades’ panel.

President Boland summed up the concerns of his fellow panelists and BAC members: “It’s been four decades. Four decades. Workers are still getting sick and dying from silicosis and there is no denying it anymore. Enough is enough. Workers in the construction trades are counting on us to enact the new standards. They need protection. NOW.”  

Having concluded its hearings, OSHA will complete its post-hearing record-gathering in July. The final silica standard is expected to be issued in 2015.

For the full text of BAC members’ OSHA testimony and additional photos, visit BAC’s website at www.bacweb.org: look for the menu that runs across the page beneath the craftworker photos; under Training, Education, and Safety, select “Safety” then “Silica Exposure.”