Resources for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

After Considering Comments, OR-OSHA Changes Silica PEL

www.ohsonline.com

Oregon OSHA recently adopted final changes to the permissible exposure limit for airborne concentrations of respirable silica to a fixed limit of 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The formula and footnote (e) for Silica in Table Z-3 in the Air Contaminants standards in general industry and construction is also amended. Both of these changes reflect better scientific processes for determining airborne contaminants exposures, the agency says. Comments received during the comment period and during the public hearing indicated that the proposed change of 0.05 mg/m3 would impact industry more than OR-OSHA had anticipated.

The original calculation was based on a 0.1 mg/m3 limit. OR-OSHA said it carefully considered the comments it received and as a result is adopting a PEL of 0.1 mg/m3, effective July 1 as OR-OSHA Administrative Order 6-2008 for general industry and construction. The agency also received comments regarding the proposed sampling method and as a result is adopting a rule that allows for a sampling method accepted by OSHA or NIOSH for respirable quartz silica.

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