After years of deliberation and attempts from industry groups to block the ruling, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — under the Department of Labor — issued its final rule that aims to protect workers from exposure to silica dust.
In the construction industry, the new rule would reduce the allowed exposure to silica from 250 micrograms per cubic meter over an eight-hour period to 50 micrograms The new standards take effect on June 23 of this year, and construction companies must comply within one year, according to OSHA.
OSHA’s new rule also mandates that companies must record instances of worker exposure to silica and provide medical exams every three years for workers exposed to the substance for long enough periods to necessitate the use of a protective respirator for 30 days or more a year.
GlassBlast has less than 1% free silica which make it comply with the OSHA new standards when it comes to dry sandblasting and used as a filler for extending the yield of epoxy.