No. The term “regulated area” is defined as an area where an employee`s exposure to silica exceeds or can reasonably be exceeded by the CEP. See 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(b). If an employer has and adequately enforces labour regulations that prevent workers from entering a particular area, the employer is not required to treat that area as a restricted area. In addition, an area does not need to be designated as a restricted area if the employer has and enforces labor regulations that limit workers` time in the zone, such that there is no reasonable expectation that their 8-hour TWA exposure will exceed the ELP. However, OSHA notes that if one or more employees enter the area long enough for their 8-hour TWA exposure to reasonably exceed the PEL, the employer must establish a restricted area and all employees entering the area must wear respirators (including those who do not stay in the area long enough). to exceed the CEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(e)(4). Objective data are information, such as air monitoring data from industry-wide surveys or calculations based on the composition of a substance, that demonstrates worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica associated with a particular product or material, process, task or activity. Data should reflect similar working conditions or with a higher potential for exposure to the processes, material types, control methods, work practices and environmental conditions of the employer`s current establishment. No.
OSHA does not intend the standard to prohibit all employees from entering entire areas of a construction site simply because employees in those areas perform work that produces silica. The standard requires employers to restrict access to work areas only in certain situations, such as “if the use of respirators is required in accordance with Table 1 or if an exposure assessment indicates that exposure is greater than the PED “. 81 Reg. Federal v. 16803. In addition, the qualified person designated by the employer to implement the written exposure control plan referred to in point g(4) of the Standard could identify other situations where access restriction is necessary. See 81 Reg. Fed. at 16803. In addition, the rule only requires minimizing the number of employees in the affected work areas. The standard does not prevent employees from entering work areas where silica-generating tasks are performed as required.
However, the employer must comply with the standard (including Table 1 or other exposure control methods) as it applies to all workers entering these areas. No. Employers can generally rely on the equipment manufacturer`s declarations to determine compliance. Employers do not have to conduct their own tests to determine whether a dust collection system is operating at the level required by the standard. However, employers must properly select, operate, maintain and replace dust collection systems to ensure they are working as intended, such as ensuring that the port and hose are not obstructed. There is no set method that employers must use to ensure that employees demonstrate that they know and understand the required topics. Rather, the standard defines employers` training obligations in terms of performance-based objectives designed to ensure that employees are aware of the hazards associated with silica in their workplace and how they can help protect themselves. Typically, however, employers can determine whether employees have the required knowledge, for example by discussing required training topics, written tests, or oral quizzes. See 81 Reg. Fed. at 16845. Contractors must comply with all requirements of the standard by September 23, 2017, with the exception of laboratory evaluation requirements for exposure samples, which begin on June 23, 2018.
OSHA developed Table 1 in response to construction industry stakeholders who highlighted the need for a different direction and standard than a standard for the industry at large. Construction industry stakeholders are concerned about the practical impossibility of monitoring exposure due to short job durations and ever-changing conditions such as weather, construction sites and materials. The record-keeping provisions of the standard require employers to maintain and maintain accurate records of all exposure measurements and objective data collected or used to assess worker exposure. 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(k)(1)(i), (2)(i). The records of exposure measurements used to assess the exposure of personnel to silica in accordance with point (d) of the Standard shall contain at least the following information: 1. the date of measurement of each sample taken; (2) the supervised task; (3) the sampling and analysis methods used; (4) the number, duration and results of the samples taken; (5) the identity of the laboratory that carried out the analysis; (6) the type of personal protective equipment, such as respirators, worn by supervised workers; and (7) the name and workplace classification of all employees represented by the controller, indicating which employees were actually monitored. 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(k)(1)(ii).
The objective data registers on which compliance with the standard is based shall contain at least the following information: (1) the material containing relevant crystalline silica; (2) the source of the objective data; (3) the test report and the results of those tests; (4) a description of the process, task or activity on which the objective data are based; and (5) other data relevant to the process, task, activity, material or exposures on which the objective data is based. 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1053(k)(2)(ii). Permissible exposure limit value (PEL). The employer must ensure that no worker is exposed to a concentration of respirable crystalline silica in air greater than 50 μg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA. It should be noted that in addition to describing silica production tasks, the exposure control plan should include a description of the engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection used to limit exposure to respirable crystalline silica.