OSHA Proposed Silica Standard Update

On December 21, 2015, OSHA took a giant step forward with its proposed silica standard by sending it to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for one last review before the final standard is issued. The period for OMB review is 90 days, and all expectations are that the review will not be extended.

In support of the standard and its expedient review by OMB, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano led a group of Building Trades Union representatives at a meeting with OMB reviewers on January 29, 2016. At the meeting, Scarano urged reviewers to finalize the current proposal, “It is long past time to take silica off the list of regulatory priorities. The time to issue a final rule – this final rule – is now.” 

Although as this Journal goes to print, no final standard has been issued, we expect to bring long-overdue good news to BAC members in the coming weeks.