On March 20, the PESA Environmental Policy Committee hosted a webinar on compliance requirements for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new standards for respirable crystalline silica. Per the new standards, OSHA lowered the Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) by 50% to 50 micrograms/cubic meter. Michael Seymour, Consultant, Icarus Environment Inc., and a former OSHA employee, provided an overview of the regulatory requirements and addressed participants’ questions.
The oil and natural gas industry must be in compliance with the new silica standards by June 23, 2018. While OSHA finalized the silica rule in June 2016, it provided general industry (which includes the oil and natural gas industry) two years to achieve compliance.
The webinar and other resources can be found below. If you have any questions or would like more information on the webinar, please contact PESA VP Government Affairs Tim Tarpley at 713-932-0168.
RESOURCES
Webinar
Michael Seymour Presentation
Silica Exposure Video
OSHA Silica Dust Standard
Silica Hazard Alert
Worker Exposure to Silica During Hydraulic Fracturing
OSHA Silica Rule Overview
Interim Enforcement Guidance for the Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard
CDC Silica Report
More Silica Resources