Regulations & Requirements
OSHA Special Emphasis Program and Directives
OSHA Inspection Procedures for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards
On June 25, 2020, OSHA issued a Directive (CPL 02-02-080) that establishes inspection procedures and enforcement policies for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards (29 CFR § 1910.1053 and 29 CFR § 1926.1153).
This instruction establishes OSHA’s field inspection and enforcement procedures designed to ensure uniformity when addressing respirable crystalline silica exposures in the workplace.
- Construction industry employers were scheduled to be in compliance with all the standard’s provisions by June 23, 2017.
- On June 23, 2018, general industry and maritime employers must have offered medical surveillance to employees who will be exposed above the PEL for 30 or more days a year.
- On June 23, 2020, this requirement expanded to include employees who would be exposed at or above the 25 µg/m³ action level (AL) for 30 or more days a year.
- Additionally, the obligation to implement engineering controls to limit exposures in hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry to the new PEL do not commence until June 23, 2021.
