What You Need to Know About MSHA’s Final Rule on Silica

Pit & Quarry by Zach Byers

National  – MSHA published its long-anticipated final rule on respirable crystalline silica for coal mines and metal/nonmetal mines in April. The final rule, titled, “Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection,” contains a number of provisions identical to the proposed rule. Still, in its final rule, MSHA extends the compliance timeline and adds unexpected requirements for reporting to MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH). Absent from the final rule are several major items that were the subject of industry comments.

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