Department of Labor issues final rule reducing silica dust exposure, better protecting miners’ health from irreversible workplace illnesses

Summary:

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a final rule to reduce the permissible exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica (silica dust or quartz dust) in mines to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for a full-shift exposure. The rule aims to better protect miners from health hazards associated with silica dust exposure, which can cause serious lung and other diseases. The rule requires mine operators to use engineering controls, conduct dust samplings and environmental evaluations, establish medical surveillance programs, and update respiratory protection standards. The estimated benefits of the rule include 1,067 lifetime avoided deaths and 3,746 lifetime avoided cases of silica-related illnesses.